BUILDING YOUR TE REO MĀORI VOCABULARY THROUGH PEPEHA: A KEY TO EXPRESSING YOURSELF

Introduction

Te reo Māori is the indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand, and learning even a little can enrich your understanding of the land, its people, and its history. If you’re Tāngata Tiriti (a person whose connection to Aotearoa is through Te Tiriti o Waitangi), developing your te reo Māori vocabulary is an important step toward expressing your identity and relationship with this place.

One of the first things you might learn in te reo Māori is how to introduce yourself using a pepeha whakarite—a structured way of describing who you are and where you come from. For Māori, a pepeha whakarite typically begins with ancestral connections to mountains, rivers, and land. However, for Tāngata Tiriti, it is more appropriate to begin with heritage or ancestry.

An adapted form of the pepeha whakarite for Tāngata Tiriti is called a pepeha urutau. There are two types of pepeha urutau:

1. For Tāngata Tiriti born overseas – This starts with ancestral heritage and connections beyond Aotearoa.

2. For Tāngata Tiriti born in Aotearoa – This acknowledges personal connection to the land while also recognising heritage from beyond Aotearoa.

Why Vocabulary Matters

Building a strong vocabulary in te reo Māori allows you to:

• Understand and use key words in context – Learning words in isolation can be useful, but understanding how they fit into everyday conversation and structured sentences is even better.

• Express yourself more confidently – With a growing vocabulary, you’ll be able to form your own sentences instead of relying on memorised phrases.

• Create your own pepeha urutau – Expanding your vocabulary means you can personalise your pepeha and speak from your own perspective.

Getting Started with a Pepeha Urutau

Examples of Pepeha Urutau

A pepeha urutau follows a structured format, with each sentence beginning with "Ko" to introduce key aspects of identity.

Pepeha Urutau for Tāngata Tiriti Born Overseas

• Ko [Ingarihi] tōku whakapaparanga mai. ([English] is my ancestry.)

• Ko [Ingarangi] tōku whenua tupu. ([England] is my ancestral land.)

• Ko [your surname] tōku whānau. (My family is the [surname] family.)

• Ko [name of a local mountain] te maunga. (The [mountain] is my mountain.)

• Ko [name of a local river or body of water] te awa. (The [river/lake/sea] is my waterway.)

• Ko [name of the place where you live now] tōku kāinga. (My home is [place].)

• Ko [something] te mea nui, he mihi ki te [something]. (For example, Ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi te mea nui, he mihi ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.) (The Tiriti o Waitangi is something important to me, greetings to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.)

• Ko [your first name] tōku ingoa. (My name is [your name].)

Pepeha Urutau for Tāngata Tiriti Born in Aotearoa

• Ko [Tiamana] tōku whakapaparanga mai. ([German] is my ancestry.)

• Ko Aotearoa tōku whenua tupu. (Aotearoa is my birth land.)

• Ko [your surname] tōku whānau. (My family is the [surname] family.)

• Ko [Tiamani] tōku whenua. (Germany is my ancestral land.)

• Ko [name of a local mountain] te maunga. (The [mountain] is my mountain.)

• Ko [name of a local river or body of water] te awa. (The [river/lake/sea] is my waterway.)

• Ko [iwi] te iwi o reira, he mihi ki a rātou. ( The iwi over there is [iwi], I acknowledge them.)

• Ko [your first name] tōku ingoa. (My name is [your name].)

By learning and using these simple structures, you’re not just memorising words—you’re actively engaging with te reo Māori in a way that reflects your own connections and experiences.

 Tips for Expanding Your Vocabulary

• Start with high-frequency words – Focus on everyday words like kai (food), whānau (family), wāhi (place), and ingoa (name). Ask google or ChatGPT for a list of 100, 300, 500, 1000 high-frequency words. Work on these lists of common words.

• Divide the list into nouns, verbs and modifiers. This makes it easier. You will be familiar with these from your first language (L1).

• Association – try and connect the L2 (new words) to words in your L1.

• Pictures – draw pictures for each new word to embed them in a holistic way in your brain. This is an association technique.

• Draw scenes – create a scene and put words into the scene. A dramatic scene may be more recallable than an ordinary scene. The scenes are imaginary. This is an association technique.

• Memory palace – place key words in a house you are familiar with and recall them as you mentally travel through the house. This is an association technique.

• Mind-mapping – drawing mind maps can be a great way to build up vocabulary. Particularly memorable if you use colour and pictures.

• Use flashcards or apps – Digital tools like Kupu or Reo Māori can help you practise words regularly.

• Post-it Notes – Some L2 learners use post-it notes for kupu hou or new words. They stick them on the walls and objects in the house. Some even put them on the dashboard in their cars.

• Listen and repeat – Try listening to te reo Māori on the radio or in podcasts, repeating words to get familiar with pronunciation.

• Practice with others – Find a language buddy or join a community learning group to practise speaking.

By growing your vocabulary, you’re not just learning a language—you’re strengthening your ability to connect with Aotearoa and its people in a meaningful way. Ka pai! Kia kaha ki te ako! (Well done! Keep going with your learning!)

Conclusion: Keep Going, Keep Growing

Learning te reo Māori—or any second language—is a journey filled with ups and downs, breakthroughs and plateaus. Some days, new words and phrases will come easily, and you’ll feel like you’re making great progress. Other days, it might feel like nothing is sticking, and frustration creeps in. This is all part of the process.

Language learning is not a straight path; it weaves and curves like a river. Sometimes, you’ll flow forward effortlessly; other times, you might feel stuck in an eddy. The key is to keep going. When you hit a plateau, take a break, rest, and come back refreshed. Even during the times when progress feels slow, your brain is still absorbing and processing the language in ways you may not realise.

Every word you learn, every phrase you try, and every sentence you build brings you closer to fluency. More importantly, it deepens your connection to Aotearoa, its people, and its history. You are not just learning vocabulary—you are weaving yourself into the rich tapestry of te reo Māori.

So be kind to yourself, enjoy the process, and celebrate the small wins. Whether you’re mastering your pepeha urutau, adding new words to your kete of knowledge, or simply recognising a phrase on the radio—each step is progress.

Kia kaha, kia manawanui, kia mau ki te ako! (Be strong, be steadfast, and hold on to learning!)