Ko tōku reo tōku ohooho, ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea | My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.
Why not learn a waiata to support your reo journey. Waiata Māori have some short waiata with lyrics to help you practise your reo.
More sources for reo Māori practise include:
Pepeha is a formal structured way of introducing yourself within the Māori world by locating yourself according to important landmarks and the people you descend from. Research your own landmarks and descent profile so you can develop your own profile. This helps to foster whakawhanaungatanga – building connections.
In celebration of our language and our Ara values
• Hono - Connect
• Hihiri - Inspire
• Aroha – Respect
Tuhi - Prepare your pepeha
Use these downloadable resources to get started on your pepeha.
#HonoChallenge pepeha template
#HonoChallenge pepeha cheatsheet
And gain further inspiration from Mariam in the following video.
Mariam Arif is a student with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and teaches us how to do a mihi and pepeha for Non-Māori. She is learning te reo Māori and demonstrates not only a pepeha (2.43 mins) but starts with a greeting and finishes with a whakatauki (proverb)
Juliette, Ara presenter for The Beat shares ideas to celebrate Te Wiki o te reo Māori.
You can find the Kupu cards that Juliette talks about in My Ara