BOARDS OF TRUSTEES: PREPARING MIGRANT TEACHERS FOR AOTEAROA WITH A PEPEHA

Preparing New Teachers for Aotearoa: The Role of Pepeha and the Board

In 2025, New Zealand is expected to face a significant teacher shortage of 1,250 educators. Many schools are filling these roles through international recruitment. This means that Boards of Trustees will oversee the appointment of new teachers, who, while qualified, may arrive with no understanding of te reo Māori, tikanga, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

As a Board, you are not just stewards of resources - you are also guardians of your school’s bicultural commitments.

A key question becomes:

How can you help ensure new teachers enter the school in a way that respects and aligns with our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi?

The answer can begin with one simple but powerful step: a pepeha.

What is a Pepeha?

By pepeha, in this context, we mean a pepeha whakarite, or a structured pepeha. There is a pepeha whakarite for Māori; a pepeha Māori. And, a pepeha whakarite for Tāngata Tiriti; a pepeha urutau. When discussing a pepeha, we must always ask: Is this for Māori or for Tāngata Tiriti, since the two are distinct? Pēpeha are a cultural practice that affirms identity and connection to place and people.

Through your pepeha, you demonstrate your pride in your background. For tangata whenua (Māori), it speaks to ancestral ties and mana whenua. For tangata Tiriti (non-Māori), including new migrant teachers, pepeha urutau offers a respectful way to acknowledge their place in Aotearoa.

What the Board Can Do

Ensure the school’s induction and onboarding programmes include time and resources to teach new staff about pēpeha. Ask leadership how pēpeha are integrated into staff development.

2. Fund Cultural Support Resources

Support the principal in allocating funding for workshops, templates, and guidance on pepeha and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Consider contracting external providers or local iwi partnerships.

3. Provide a Template for New Teachers

Encourage the school to offer the following pepeha urutau format for all incoming teachers. The following example is a mihimihi (speech of greeting) which contains a suggested pepeha urutau.

Example:

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa, anei taku pepeha urutau:

Ko [Your ancestry/heritage] tōku whakapaparanga mai.

Ko [Your Mountain Overseas] te maunga o tōku ngākau.

Ko [Your River Overseas] te awa o tōku ngākau.

Ko [Your Country] te whenua i whānau mai au.

Ko [A place/location] tētahi wāhi i tipu mai au.

Ko [Year of Arrival] te tau i heke mai au ki Aotearoa.

Ko [Your Place of Residence in NZ] te wāhi au e noho ana.

Ko au he kaiako i konei.

Ko [Your Name] tōku ingoa.

Nā reira, nōku te maringa nui ki te noho i runga i te whenua o [Local Iwi].

Ko te tūmanako ka tipu aku mātauranga mō tēnei ao rangatira o te ao Māori.

Nā reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

English translation:

Greetings, greetings, greetings to us all, here is my adapted pepeha:

[Your ancestry/heritage] is my ancestry/heritage.

[Your Mountain Overseas] is the mountain of my heart.

[Your River Overseas] is the river of my heart.

[Your Country] is the land where I was born.

[A place/location] is a place where I grew up.

[Year of Arrival] is the year I came to Aotearoa.

[Your Place of Residence] is the place where I live.

I am a teacher here.

My name is [Your Name].

Therefore, I am fortunate to live on the land of [Local Iwi].

It is my hope that my knowledge will grow in this esteemed world of Te Ao Māori.

Therefore, greetings, greetings, greetings to us all

Note that this is a suggested template; there can be many variations for Tāngata Tiriti.

Conclusion: Why Pepeha Urutau Matters

By supporting pēpeha as a first step, Boards contribute to a school climate where teachers feel welcomed, guided, and culturally safe from the moment they arrive.

It also ensures that tamariki Māori see their identity reflected and respected in every classroom - and that non-Māori students see te ao Māori being affirmed as part of everyday learning. This visibility helps reinforce their own role in honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi: partnership, participation, and protection.

It cannot be overstated how vital a pepeha urutau is for new teachers from overseas. It is something they must come to grips with early on. Ideally, every migrant teacher should arrive ready with their pepeha urutau - prepared to introduce themselves to their students in a culturally grounded and respectful way. Translating their pepeha into English can further support understanding and inclusion for the whole class.

Boards play a key role here. It is essential to ensure that robust onboarding processes are in place, which prepare migrant teachers with this important cultural foundation—a taonga unique to Aotearoa New Zealand.

He Whakataukī

E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea.

I will never be lost, for I am a seed sown in Rangiātea.

This powerful whakataukī affirms the strength of identity and the promise of belonging. But even the most sacred seed must be nurtured. A seed cannot grow without warmth, water, and nourishment. It may carry incredible potential, but without the right care, it will wither.

When a teacher arrives in Aotearoa, full of hope, knowledge, and a willingness to serve, they are like that seed. And once they begin to sprout, they need more than just a warm welcome. They need ongoing cultural support, guidance, and connection to thrive.

That responsibility rests with all of us - Boards of Trustees, school leaders, communities, teachers, and whānau. We are the gardeners. It is our shared duty to nurture the seeds, ensuring that our schools are places where people grow strong roots and flourish in the unique soil of Aotearoa.

Let us ensure that every teacher, no matter where they come from, is equipped to plant their roots here in a way that honours the land, its first people, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Digital Iwi offers Board-friendly resources to help guide schools through this journey. Visit www.digitaliwi.com to learn more or explore our graphic novel, Toko and His Pepeha Troubles, designed especially for teachers new to Aotearoa.