Mihimihi / Personal Introductions

Question 1

Kaikarakia

Answer 1

Conductor of prayers

Question 2

Toi Whenua

Answer 2

Birthplace

Question 3

E kui mā, e koro mā

Answer 3

A common phrase used to acknowledge elders

Literally “Grandma and grandpa”

Question 4

Maunga

Answer 4

Mountain

Question 5

Awa

Answer 5

River

Question 6

Structure of Mihimihi

Standard structure which can be used by beginner speakers

Answer 6

1. Whakataukī/ Proverbs
2. Acknowledge the kaikarakia
3. Kaumātua / Elders
4. Tūtohu whenua/ Landmarks and connections
5. Whānau / Family
6. Tō ingoa / Your name
7. Kupu Whakatepe / Concluding words

Structure of Mihimihi

1. Whakataukī / Proverbs
Begin your Mihimihi with a relevant whakataukī / proverb and general greeting.

2. Acknowledge the kaikarakia
Acknowledge the conductor of karakia.

3. Kaumātua / Elders
Acknowledge the elders present.

4. Tūtohu whenua / Landmarks and connections
Share your tribal landmarks and connections - Waka, Maunga, Awa, Iwi, Hapū, Marae, etc.

5. Whānau / Family
Share with the gathering those within your whānau - Kaumātua / grandparents, mātua / parents, tuākana, tēina /siblings, etc.

6. Tō ingoa / Your name
Your full name.

7. Kupu Whakatepe / Concluding words
An appropriate whakataukī and general mihi to finish your kōrero.

Question 7

Mihimihi Example
For those who whakapapa Māori

Answer 7

1. Whakataukī
Me mate ururoa, kei mate wheke! Tēnā koutou katoa. / *Die like a shark, not like an octopus! (Never give up!) Greetings to all. *

2. Acknowledge the kaikarakia
Ki te kaikarakia, tēnā koe. / To the conductor of our karakia, I acknowledge you.

3. Elders
E kui mā, e koro mā, tēnā koutou. / Greetings to our elders who are present.

4. Landmarks and connections
Note: The bold section that follows is usually only said if the person speaking has iwi Māori tribal affiliations. This section is what is referred to as Pepeha.
Ko Tararua te maunga / Tararua is the mountain I affiliate with
Ko Ōtaki te awa / Ōtaki is the river I affiliate with
Ko Tainui te waka / Tainui is the ancestral canoe I affiliate with
Ko Ngāti Raukawa te iwi / Raukawa is the tribe I affiliate with
Ko Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti te hapū / Kapumanawawhiti is the sub-tribe I affiliate with
Ko Te Pou o Tainui te marae / Te Pou o Tainui is the marae I affiliate withy

5. Whānau
Ko Mikaere Runga rāua ko Mere White ōku kaumātua / Mikaere Runga and Mere White are my grandparents
Ko Rob Runga tōku pāpā / Rob Runga is my father
Ko Sheree Smith tōku māmā / **Sheree Smith **is my mother
Ko Trevor tōku tuakana / Trevor is my older brother
Ko Paki tōku teina / Paki is my younger brother
Ko Jasmine tōku tuahine / Jasmine is my sister

6. Your name
Ko Māka Runga tōku ingoa / My name is Māka Runga

7. Mihi
Nō reira, kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui! / In closing, be strong, be brave, be steadfast!
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. / Greetings to each and everyone.

Question 8

Mihimihi Example
For non-Māori

If you are not of Māori descent, acknowledging local mana whenua / tribal authorities and tūtohu whenua / significant landmarks when delivering your mihimihi is encouraged. As you develop your proficiency, you can add the names of important places and people and create a more figurative mihimihi. Take some time to find out and get to know significant Māori landmarks, iwi and hapū in your local area.

Answer 8

The following is an example if your ancestors migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand and you were born in the Waitaha (Canterbury) area:

1. Whakataukī
Me mate ururoa, kei mate wheke! Tēnā koutou katoa. / *Die like a shark, not like an octopus! (Never give up!) Greetings to all. *

2. Landmarks and connections
Tēnei ka mihi ki te mana whenua o tēnei rohe. / I acknowledge the local tribal authorities of this land.

Toitū ngā tūtohu whenua o tēnei takiwā! / May the significant landmarks of this region remain!

3. Acknowledge the kaikarakia
Ki te kaikarakia, tēnā koe. / To the conductor of our karakia, I acknowledge you.

4. Elders
E kui mā, e koro mā, tēnā koutou. / Greetings to our elders who are present.

5. Heritage
Nō Ingarangi ōku tūpuna / My ancestors are from England.

I tae mai ōku tūpuna ki Aotearoa i te tau 1850 mā runga i te kaipuke, Randolph. / My ancestors arrived in New Zealand in the year 1850 aboard the ship, Randolph.

Ko Ōtautahi te toi whenua. / Christchurch is my place of birth.

E noho ana ahau ki Kirikiriroa ināianei. / I currently reside in Hamilton.

…Continue on with your grandparents and other members of your whānau, including yourself.

6. Whānau
Ko Mikaere Runga rāua ko Mere White ōku kaumātua / Mikaere Runga and Mere White are my grandparents
Ko Rob Runga tōku pāpā / Rob Runga is my father
Ko Sheree Smith tōku māmā / **Sheree Smith **is my mother
Ko Trevor tōku tuakana / Trevor is my older brother
Ko Paki tōku teina / Paki is my younger brother
Ko Jasmine tōku tuahine / Jasmine is my sister

7. Your name
Ko Māka Runga tōku ingoa / My name is Māka Runga

8. Mihi
Nō reira, kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui! / In closing, be strong, be brave, be steadfast!
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. / Greetings to each and everyone.