Weave the people together (Whiria te tangata)
Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei
Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain
Many Māori people tell their background where they came from when visiting the Marae, during the Hui, Powhiri, meeting and ..
It is called Pepeha – who I am. Here is an example when I addressed myself through my ancestors where they lived many years ago.
Starting with the mountain (te Maunga), the ocean (te Moana), the river (te Awa), the place where you are from (ahau), family name (Whānau) and first name (ingoa).
I will start with my father’s mother’s side family from the Northland for example.
KO HIKURANGI TE MAUNGA (Hikurangi is the mountain),
KO PACIFIC OCEAN TE MOANA (Pacific Ocean is the ocean)
KO TURAKINA TE AWA (Turakina is the river)
NŌ RUATANGATA AHAU (I am from Ruatangata)
KO YATES/WATKINSON/WORNSOP TŌKU WHĀNAU (Yates/Watkinson/Worsnop) is my family
KO JEAN TŌKU INGOA (My name is Jean)
Here is another one which came from my mother’s father’s side family for example.
KIA ORA TĀTOU (Greeting to all)
KO MANGAWEKA TE MAUNGA (Mangaweka is the mountain)
KO TURAKINA TE AWA (Turakina is the river)
NŌ MARTON AHAU (I am from Marton)
KO FOLLETT/SIGNAL TŌKU WHĀNAU (Follett/Signal is my family name)
KO JEAN TŌKU INGOA (My name is Jean)
Here is another one from my father’s father’s mother’s side family.
KIA ORA TĀTOU (Greeting to all)
KO TAUPIRI TE MAUNGA (Taupiri is the mountain)
KO HURUNUI TE AWA (Hurunui is the river)
NŌ OXFORD AHAU (I am from Oxford)
KO MASTERS TŌKU WHĀNAU (Masters is my family name)
KO JEAN TŌKU INGOA (My name is Jean)
There is a website that may help you and allows you to prepare before arriving at the Marae or to address in the hui. Also to hear the recording in Māori pronounce some of the keywords. https://pepeha.nz
With the Turi Māori, they will learn to find out where their ancestors came from, to use the concepts sign language for example – Te Aroha as in sign language concept in the link. https://www.nzsl.nz/signs/6698
It is difficult for many Turi Māori, to pronounce in their te Reo Māori, as long they have the interpreter to speak in te Reo Māori. There is one Turi Māori living in the South Island, and he speaks in te Reo Māori, but he is still learning to use NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language).
There are many ways of learning Māori culture and the traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance) before coming to Aotearoa by looking up at the websites or read the books.
Why not check out the video for many D/deaf children to learn about Rūaumoko – The Rumbling Voice in NZSL Māori concepts here. https://vimeo.com/173841350
https://www.wcl.govt.nz/blogs/kids/index.php/category/te-reo-and-maori-culture/
