pepehatemplateintroduction
Tikanga
A few gentle guidelines for pepeha in our space:
- Your pepeha is personal. Share what you’re comfortable sharing.
- For our māori whānau, it’s normal to be learning your whakapapa at every age. If you’re still learning your connections, it’s okay to leave lines out when you are unsure.
- For our non-māori whānau, it’s normal to anchor to where you’re from and where you live now (whenua tupu / kāinga), and to acknowledge your distant ancestry honestly. Our templates can help you get started.
- Keep it simple and respectful. You can always add more as you learn.
- Give it a go. Even if it is simply “Hello, My name is _ “.
If you’re unsure, ask a kaiako/kaumātua/whānau member — local guidance is best.
Templates
Mix and match what fits for you. It’s okay to keep it simple.
A good starting point is below:
Start with a greeting who is there..
- Tēnā koutou katoa — Hello to you all
Tell us about your ancestry - if you know it…
- Ko _ te iwi — are my tribe
- Te whakapaparanga mai _ — is my ancestry (e.g. Ko Kōtirana — Scotland/Scottish) Engari — but, however Ko _ te whenua tupu — Placename is where I grew up.
Tell us about where you are from…
- Nō _ ahau — I’m from
- Ko _ te whenua tupu — Placename is where I grew up.
Tell us your name…
- Ko _ tōku ingoa — My name is
- Ko _ au — I am Name.
Finish with a final greeting for everyone
- Tēnā tātou katoa — Greetings everyone
Feel free to add in any of the options below that fit with the connections you have.
Options for Māori
- Tēnā koutou katoa — Hello to you all
- Ko _ te maunga — is the mountain
- Ko _ te awa / roto — is the river / lake
- Ko _ te waka — is the waka
- Ko _ te iwi — are the tribe
- Ko _ te hapū — are the subtribe
- Ko _ te marae — is the marae
- Nō _ ahau — I’m from
- Ko _ tōku ingoa — My name is
- Tēnā tātou katoa — Greetings everyone
Options for Everyone
- Tēnā koutou katoa — Hello to you all
- Te whakapaparanga mai _ — is my ancestry (e.g. Ko Kōtirana — Scotland/Scottish)
- Engari — but, however
- Ko _ te whenua tupu — Placename is where I grew up
- Ko _ te kāinga — Place is my home
- Nō _ au — I'm from place
- Kei _ au e noho ana — I am living in place
- He _ au i _ — I am job title at workplace
- Ko _ au — I am Name
- Tēnā tātou katoa — Greetings everyone