Mihi Whakatau
At the beginning of each term, we hold a mihi whakatau. A mihi whakatau is a speech of welcome. We want all new students, staff and community members to feel welcomed and at home in our kura.
Note: This process is considered a mihi whakatau not a pōwhiri because it does not include multiple speakers, the wero, koha, mihimihi and poroporoaki.
Here is a general overview of the protocol that Rāwhiti School uses for this process:
Setting - School hall, Papa Whakaari or on the concrete area in front of the office and hall.
Who? - Tangata Whenua - Existing Students/Kaiako/Small representation from each studio
Manuhiri - Visitors/any new students and kaiako being welcomed
Process
Existing students seated in place. If possible seat girls at the back, boys at front. Chairs for speakers and small representation of staff and older students from Ata Hapara (our bilingual programme) with Tuakana/Older boys/Male teachers seated in front.
Visitors waiting outside on the street side of the Waharoa.
Karanga - ALL PEOPLE STAND
A kaikaranga (caller) from the tangata whenua will begin to call and she will be responded to by a kaikaranga from the manuhiri. The manuhiri will move into the hall and the calling will continue.
All people sit
Whaikōrero & Waiata
Whaikōrero (speeches) are given by both hosts and visitors on the marae. At the conclusion of each speech the speaker and a number of supporters will sing a waiata (song).
These speeches follow this order:
Tangata whenua whaikōrero: Senior male on behalf of the school (kura)
Tangata whenua waiata: in support of the speech - either Manu Tiria or E hara.
Manuhiri whaikōrero: Senior male on behalf of the new staff, students and whānau
Manuhiri waiata: in support of the speech - Te Aroha
Harirū and hongi
At the conclusion of the formal proceedings the manuhiri will be invited to come and hongi (press noses) and harirū (shake hands) with the tangata whenua.
Hākari
The mihi whakatau will conclude with a hākari (feast), which lifts the tāpu (sacredness) of the pōwhiri. Students will return to class with their teachers to have some kai. Parents and whānau are welcome to go to the staff room and have a light morning tea.
The tangata whenua are the local people. When they are welcoming a group they are responsible for them. The Tangata whenua refers to those who are representing the school (kura) - Rāwhiti students, teachers and whānau who have been formally welcomed into Rāwhiti School.
The manuhiri are visitors to a place who have never been there before. They are known as waewae tapu (sacred feet). The manuhiri are students, teachers and whānau who are brand new to Rāwhiti School and we are welcoming to be part of us and our school (kura).
A kaikaranga (caller) from the tangata whenua will begin to call and she will be responded to by a kaikaranga from the manuhiri. The manuhiri will move onto the marae and the calling will continue.
Whaikōrero (speeches) are given by both hosts and visitors on the marae. At the conclusion of each speech the speaker and a number of supporters will sing a waiata (song).
At the conclusion of the formal proceedings the manuhiri will be invited to come and hongi (press noses) and harirū (shake hands) with the tangata whenua.
The mihi whakatau will conclude with a hākari (feast), which lifts the tāpu (sacredness) of the pōwhiri. Students will return to class with their teachers to have some kai. Parents and whānau are welcome to go to the staff room and have a light morning tea.
“He aha to mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata”
What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, the people, the people”
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa
Let us keep close together, not far apart