Whakataukī | Proverb
"Ko tōku reo, ko tōku ohooho; ko tōku reo, ko tōku māpihi maurea"
My language is my awakening; my language is the window to my soul.
A pepeha is your formal self-introduction in te reo Māori - connecting you to your land, rivers, mountains, and ancestors. Through pepeha, we honor our whakapapa and establish our place in the world. This is how we introduce ourselves with mana and pride!
🌺 Build Your Pepeha
Unit 1: Te Ao Māori | Years 7-10
📋 Learning Objectives:
- Understand the structure and purpose of pepeha
- Connect with your ancestral lands and waterways
- Create your own personal pepeha in te reo Māori
- Present your pepeha with confidence and mana
🌊 What is a Pepeha?
A pepeha is your formal introduction that connects you to:
- 🏔️ Your mountain (maunga) - where your ancestors came from
- 🌊 Your river or body of water (awa/moana/roto) - source of life
- 🚣 Your canoe (waka) - how your tīpuna arrived in Aotearoa
- 🏘️ Your tribe/iwi - your people and community
- 🏠 Your marae - your gathering place and spiritual home
- 👤 Your family/whānau and your own name
📖 Example Pepeha
This pepeha connects Hemi to Taranaki region, his iwi, and spiritual home. Each line anchors his identity to whenua (land) and whakapapa (ancestry).
✏️ Build YOUR Pepeha
💡 Tip: Could be a mountain near where you were born, where your family is from, or where you live now. If you can't find a mountain connection, you can use a significant geographical feature.
💡 Tip: River, lake (roto), or ocean (moana) near your home or ancestral land.
💡 Tip: If you have Māori ancestry, research which waka your iwi arrived on. If not Māori, you might reference the ship your ancestors arrived on, or skip this line.
💡 Tip: Your iwi if you know it, or you can say "Ko Aotearoa tōku whenua" (Aotearoa is my land).
💡 Tip: If you have a marae connection, name it. If not, you can use your school: "Ko Mangakōtukutuku te kura".
🔍 Research Your Connections
Use these prompts to discover your pepeha connections:
1. Where were you born? What mountains/rivers are nearby?
2. Where is your family from originally? (Ask parents/grandparents!)
3. Do you have Māori whakapapa? If yes, which iwi/hapū?
4. If your family came from overseas, which country? How did they arrive?
📜 Write Your Final Pepeha
Copy your completed pepeha here in your best handwriting:
Practice saying your pepeha out loud!
Stand tall, speak clearly, and deliver with pride. Your pepeha is a taonga (treasure) - treat it with respect!
🌟 Extension Challenge
Create a Visual Pepeha Poster: Design a beautiful poster that illustrates your pepeha with drawings, photos, or symbols representing each element (mountain, river, waka, etc.).
Presentation Option: Present your pepeha to the class (1-2 minutes). Explain why each element is significant to you and your whānau.