Pōhiri
Pōhiri at Te Kura o Tihiōtonga
The pōhiri (or pōwhiri) is a traditional Māori ceremony used to welcome visitors. It is usually held on a marae, but in this case, it is how we welcome our new whānau to our school.
The tangata whenua are the people of this place – our current students, staff, and leadership team. During the pōhiri, our Principal, Kaumātua, staff, and students formally welcome our manuhiri – new families and staff – onto the school grounds.
Our manuhiri will gather as a group outside the office area by the Four Winds Pou, where they will be welcomed and briefed by staff. They will then be called on with a traditional karanga – a ceremonial call of welcome, led by women, that clears the way for safe passage.
As the manuhiri move forward, women and children lead the group, with men walking behind – symbolising peaceful intent and protection. On arrival, the men will sit in the front row with the kai kōrero (designated male speakers), and women and children will sit behind them. The tangata whenua will speak first, and each speech is followed by a waiata tautoko (supporting song) sung by the group.
Our Kaumatua will say whaikōrero (speeches) which can often include greetings, the purpose of the visit, and personal connections through pepeha (genealogy and landmarks). Speakers will also acknowledge the local iwi and those who have passed on (hunga mate).
The waiata tautoko (song) that follow may reflect local iwi, a whakataukī (proverb), or support the message of the speech. A male from the manuhiri – often a whānau member or staff member with links to the visitors – will reply on behalf of the group, also followed by a waiata.
To close the formal speeches, our Principal/Tumuaki, will speak, followed by another waiata. After this, our manuhiri will move forward to share in the hongi (pressing of noses) or harirū (handshakes) with the tangata whenua.
Once the formal proceedings are complete, our Principal will speak again in English, sharing key messages with our tamariki and whānau. The pōhiri concludes with the sharing of kai (food), which symbolically lifts the tapu (sacredness) of the occasion and returns the space to noa (neutral and safe). Our new students will head off to their learning environments.
From this moment, our new whānau are considered part of our kura and they become tangata whenua.