Pōwhiri: a traditional Māori welcome ceremony

A pōwhiri is rich in symbolism, protocol, and cultural meaning. It recognises the coming together of two groups separated both physically and spiritually in a powerful expression of manaakitanga (hospitality) and kotahitanga (unity). A pōwhiri honours the mana whenua of the region and is typically held on a marae but can also be adapted for other formal settings such as welcoming students onto the university grounds, as you will experience as you begin your journey here at AUT.

The pōwhiri serves to remove the tapu (sacredness) of the manuhiri (visitors/new students), integrating them with the hau kainga (hosts/AUT staff and current students). It is a process of establishing relationships, acknowledging tīpuna (ancestors), and affirming shared values. Whether you are a waewae tapu (first-time visitor) or returning, participating in a pōwhiri is a meaningful way to connect.

Structure of a pōwhiri

While variations exist across iwi (tribes) and regions, a typical pōwhiri includes the following elements:

Karanga

A karanga (call of welcome) is performed by wāhine (women), acknowledging the living and the dead, and inviting manuhiri forward. The first voice you hear in welcome will always be of a wahine because of her power to negate tapu and negative spiritual influences.

Whakaeke

Whakaeke is the physical movement of the manuhiri onto the marae grounds or other formal space. When you arrive at the waharoa (entrance), wāhine will move to the front and tāne (men) to the back. Feel free to stand with the gender you identify with. If you identify as non-binary or gender diverse, situate yourself in the centre of the group. As the karanga begins and you start to move to your seats, wāhine will sit at the back and tāne in the front seats. Again, please sit with the gender you identify with or take the centre-row seats. Once the hau kainga are seated, everyone can then also take a seat.

If you are uncertain of this process, please ask one of our student ambassadors (in the teal t-shirts).

Haka pōwhiri

A haka pōwhiri is a chant or dance of welcome, performed to honour and draw in manuhiri.

Whaikōrero

Whaikōrero are formal speeches delivered by selected speakers, usually tāne, but not always. The whaikōrero will start in te reo Māori, the indigenous language of Aotearoa, followed by speeches in English. Whaikōrero in te reo Māori is a cultural practice that preserves the sacredness of tīkanga (tradition) and mātauranga (Māori knowledge) and therefore will not be translated into English.

Waiata Tautoko

Waiata tautoko is a song performed after each speech to support and enhance the mana (authority) of the speaker. During the pōwhiri you'll be asked to join the waiata tautoko representing the manuhiri. The waiata is 'Te Aroha' and the lyrics are below:

Te Aroha

Te aroha,
Te whakapono,
Me te rangimārie,
Tātou tātou e.

It is love,
It is hope,
It is peace,
That binds us together.

Harirū and hongi

Following the formal speeches, manuhiri will move across the ātea (the space between) to harirū (shake hands) and hongi (press noses) symbolising the joining of hā (breath) and mauri (life force).

Kai

The final act of the pōwhiri is the sharing of kai (food) - this lifts the tapu between the manuhiri and hau kāinga.

By meeting kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) we will cement our commitment to supporting your journey at AUT and establish you as a part of the AUT whānau.