👥👪 Ko tōku Iwi, Ko tōku Hapū
Adding tribal connections to our pepeha
📚 Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions
WALT:
- Understand what iwi and hapū mean
- Identify our own iwi and hapū connections (if known)
- Add iwi and hapū lines to our pepeha
- Discuss the importance of tribal identity in te ao Māori
📋 Lesson Flow (60 mins)
🌅 Pepeha Chain Recap (10 mins)
Activity: Students stand in a circle. Each person shares their pepeha so far (maunga, awa, waka) — going around like a wave (karanga).
Celebrate: "Look how much we've learned! Today we add iwi and hapū."
📖 Understanding Iwi & Hapū (15 mins)
Iwi
Tribe — a large group of related hapū
Example: Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou
Hapū
Sub-tribe — extended family groups within an iwi
Example: Ngāti Tūtemohuta (within Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
The Whānau Structure:
Waka → Iwi → Hapū → Whānau
Canoe → Tribe → Sub-tribe → Family
✏️ The Sentence Patterns (15 mins)
Ko [Iwi] tōku iwi.
Ko [Hapū] tōku hapū.
Pronunciation:
- iwi = "ee-wee"
- hapū = "hah-poo"
Discussion Questions:
- How do you find out your iwi? (Ask whānau, kaumātua)
- What if you don't know your iwi? (That's okay — we'll discuss alternatives)
- Can you have more than one iwi? (Yes! Many people whakapapa to multiple iwi)
👨👩👧 Homework: Whānau Interview (10 mins intro)
Task: Interview a family member to discover your iwi and hapū connections.
Interview Questions:
- What iwi does our whānau connect to?
- What hapū are we part of?
- Do we connect to more than one iwi? (maternal/paternal sides)
- How did you learn about our iwi connections?
For students who are non-Māori: Interview whānau about ancestral connections to place — what countries, regions, or communities does your family come from?
🎤 Practice Session (10 mins)
With what you know so far:
- Write your iwi line (if known): "Ko ______ tōku iwi."
- Write your hapū line (if known): "Ko ______ tōku hapū."
- Practice saying your full pepeha (up to 5 lines now!)
If you don't know: Leave a blank for now — you'll complete it after your whānau interview.
📋 Major Iwi of Aotearoa
👩🏫 Teacher Notes
- Sensitivity: Iwi identity can be complex. Some students may be reconnecting with lost iwi connections, others may have complicated family histories.
- Non-Māori students: In Lesson 5, we'll discuss mihimihi as an alternative for students who don't have Māori whakapapa.
- Multiple iwi: Students with connections to multiple iwi can include them: "Ko Ngāti Porou rāua ko Ngāi Tahu ōku iwi."
- Iwi registration: Some iwi have registration databases (e.g., Ngāi Tahu Whakapapa Unit) — students could explore whether their whānau is registered.