In recent years, the practice of introducing oneself using a pepeha has gained popularity among Tāngata Tiriti (non-Māori New Zealanders) who wish to show respect for te ao Māori. While this intention is often genuine, there is an important distinction to be made: a traditional pepeha is grounded in whakapapa—it establishes a person’s genealogical connection to the land, waterways, and ancestors. For Māori, these relationships are not simply about where one lives or which places one loves; they reflect manawhenuatanga, the status of being tangata whenua with ancestral rights and responsibilities to a particular area.
If you are not tangata whenua of a place, but you still want to introduce yourself in a way that aligns with the principles of a pepeha, you should use a pepeha urutau (an adapted pepeha). This ensures that you are acknowledging your relationship to the land without implying manawhenua status.
Why Does This Matter?
A traditional pepeha is succinct and structured in a way that strongly implies manawhenuatanga.
For example, saying:
Ko Taranaki te maunga, ko Waitara te awa
implies a whakapapa connection to these places and the iwi who hold mana whenua there. If a non-Māori person were to say this, it could be interpreted as cultural appropriation—whether intentional or not. This is why it is crucial to adapt the language in a way that reflects your connection without misrepresenting your relationship to the land.
How to Adapt Your Pepeha
Rather than using the standard format of a pepeha Māori, Tāngata Tiriti can modify their wording to make it clear that they appreciate, respect, or reside near significant natural features, without claiming ancestry or authority over them. Here are some examples of how this can be done:
Instead of:
X Ko Maungawhau te maunga. (This implies whakapapa and manawhenuatanga.)
Use:
> Ko Maungawhau te maunga e arohaina ana e au. (Maungawhau is the mountain I cherish.)
> Ko Maungawhau te maunga e noho ana au i raro iho nei. (Maungawhau is the mountain I live beneath.)
Instead of:
X Ko Ōrākei te kāinga. (This implies a whakapapa connection to Ōrākei as a papakāinga.)
Use:
> Ko Ōrākei te wāhi au e noho ana. (Ōrākei is the place where I live.)
Instead of:
X Ko Waikato te awa. (This implies the Waikato River is an ancestral river.)
Use:
> Ko Waikato te awa e kawe nei i ngā whakaaro o tōna iwi. (The Waikato River carries the thoughts of its people.)
> Ko Waikato te awa e whakamānawa ana au. (The Waikato River is a river I honour.)
These subtle but important changes show appreciation without appropriation.
The Key to Respectful Use
If you are Tāngata Tiriti and want to create a pepeha urutau:
Acknowledge your role as a guest – You can express respect for the land without implying ancestral ties.
Be specific in your wording – Use phrases like “e arohaina ana au” (I cherish), “e whakamānawa ana au” (I honour), or “e noho ana au” (I live in).
Avoid direct ownership statements – Instead of stating outright that a mountain or river is yours, acknowledge it in a way that reflects your admiration or physical proximity.
Learn from mana whenua – If in doubt, ask Māori colleagues, friends, or local iwi about appropriate ways to introduce yourself.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your pepeha urutau reflects your connection to Aotearoa in a way that is culturally safe, authentic, and respectful of Māori identity and leadership.
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