Te Reo MāoriFreePrintable

Pōwhiri Practices Introduction

A free te reo māori worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

Download now

Name:Date:

Pōwhiri Practices Introduction

Explore how greetings and welcoming language can contribute to a pōwhiri. Read the information, then answer the questions. Tikanga and the order of pōwhiri practices can vary between marae and iwi; follow the guidance of the people hosting the pōwhiri.

Read: greetings within a pōwhiri

A pōwhiri is a formal process of welcome on a marae. The hosts are tangata whenua; the visitors are manuhiri. A pōwhiri is not simply a sequence of greetings: it can include tikanga such as karanga (a ceremonial call), whaikōrero (formal speech-making), waiata, hongi, and the sharing of kai. The practices and their order vary between iwi and marae. Te reo Māori greetings are useful in everyday encounters as well as formal settings. “Tēnā koe” addresses one person; “tēnā kōrua” addresses two people; and “tēnā koutou” addresses three or more people. “Nau mai” means “welcome” or “come here”, while “haere mai” is commonly used to invite someone to come. “Mōrena” is an informal greeting meaning “morning”. “Kei te pēhea koe?” asks one person “How are you?”; “Kei te pai ahau” means “I am well”. Choose language that suits the people and setting, and listen to local guidance.

A. Understand the welcome

Use the reading to answer questions 1–4.

1.Write the letter of the correct meaning beside each phrase.

1. Tēnā koe
2. Tēnā koutou
3. Nau mai
4. Mōrena

D. Greeting to three or more people
A. Welcome / come here
B. Good morning (informal)
C. Greeting to one person

2.You are greeting a visiting group of six people. Which phrase from the reading addresses a group of three or more?

Tēnā koe
Tēnā kōrua
Tēnā koutou
Kei te pai ahau

3.At a pōwhiri, what do the words tangata whenua and manuhiri refer to?

4.The order and form of pōwhiri practices are exactly the same at every marae. Write true or false, then correct the statement if it is false.

TrueFalse

B. Use greetings in context

Apply the phrases thoughtfully. Consider who is being addressed and the setting.

5.A visitor asks one person, “Kei te pēhea koe?” The person replies that they are well. Complete the reply using the phrase from the reading: “.”

6.You are welcoming a visitor and want to say “welcome” or “come here”. Which phrase from the reading best fits?

Nau mai
Kei te pēhea koe?
Tēnā kōrua
Kei te pai ahau

7.Explain one way a greeting in te reo Māori could help create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Give a specific example phrase and say who you might address with it.

C. Reflect and create

Use your own words, while drawing on the information in the reading.

8.Why is it important not to assume that every pōwhiri follows exactly the same practices?

9.Write a two-line welcome to a group of visitors. Include one suitable Māori greeting from the reading and one English sentence that makes the visitors feel welcome.

10.Which statement best describes the relationship between greetings and a pōwhiri?

A pōwhiri is only a collection of everyday greetings.
Greetings can be part of welcoming people, while a pōwhiri is a broader formal process.
Every pōwhiri uses the same greetings in the same order.
Visitors are always the people who lead every part of a pōwhiri.