You might ask family about your mountain, river, waka, hapu and iwi. If not learn this one - as it is correct for all of us. Simple and correct it better than getting it wrong in this situation:
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Ko Perehipitīriana te Hāhi. Presbyterian is the Church.
Ko Hāto Kēneti te Tangata. Saint Kentigern is the Parton Saint.
Ko Hāto Kēneti te Kura. Saint Kentigern is the School.
Me ū ki te whakapono. The faith must be kept.
Ko __________ tōku ingoa. My name is _________
Examples:
Ko Maungawhau te maunga (Maungawhau / Mt Eden is the mountain)
Ko Waitematā te moana (Waitematā is the sea)
Ko Tāmaki Makaurau te rohe (Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland is the region)
Nō Tāmaki Makaurau ahau (I am from Auckland)
Ko [Tō ingoa] tōku ingoa (My name is [Your name])
Ko Emei te maunga (Mount Emei is the mountain)
Ko Chang Jiang te awa (The Yangtze River is the river)
Nō Haina ahau (I am from China)
Kei Tāmaki Makaurau taku kāinga ināianei (My home is now in Auckland)
Ko [Tō ingoa] tōku ingoa (My name is [Your name])
Above is Year 7 Level - Year 9 & 10 should include a greeting and whakapapa.
A greeting is how you begin a conversation or introduction. In te reo Māori, greetings are used to show respect and acknowledge others. Common greetings include "Tēnā koe" for one person, "Tēnā kōrua" for two people, and "Tēnā koutou" for three or more. "Kia ora" is also widely used and can mean hello, thank you, or be well.
A pepeha is a structured way of introducing yourself that expresses your connection to the land, people, and places. It often includes references to a mountain, river or sea, place of origin, and current home. It may also include tribal affiliations, marae, and waka if the person has Māori ancestry. For non-Māori, a pepeha can still be used respectfully to show connection to where they live and where they come from.
Whakapapa means genealogy or lineage. It refers to a person’s ancestral connections and family history. In Māori culture, whakapapa is central to identity and is often shared through stories, names, and relationships.