Introduction
Many new citizens to Aotearoa find themselves at their citizenship ceremony hearing the sounds of te reo Māori. For some, it is a beautiful and moving experience. But for many, it raises questions: Why is the first language of this land being spoken here? Why does this moment of gaining citizenship include something uniquely Māori? The answer lies in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Te Tiriti and the Formation of Aotearoa
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, signed in 1840, is the foundational document of Aotearoa New Zealand. It established the basis for governance, partnership, and protection between Māori as tangata whenua and the Crown (Government). While its promises have not always been honoured, Te Tiriti remains the touchstone of our national identity. It is why te reo Māori, the indigenous language of this land, has a rightful place in official ceremonies, including those that welcome new citizens. When you hear te reo at your citizenship ceremony, you are witnessing the living presence of Te Tiriti—the agreement that made Aotearoa what it is today.
Everyone Has a Relationship with Te Tiriti
One of the most important ideas to understand is that Te Tiriti does not only apply to Māori and the government. It applies to everyone who lives in this country. Whether you were born here or have chosen to make Aotearoa your home, Te Tiriti is the foundation of the society you are now part of.
However, many people have never considered what their relationship to Te Tiriti is. This is where the concept of "My Tiriti Relationship" (MTR) comes in. Developing your own MTR means actively engaging with Te Tiriti, understanding its significance, and finding ways to honour it in your daily life.
Developing Your MTR Through a Pepeha Urutau
A powerful way to begin articulating your relationship with Te Tiriti is through a pepeha urutau—a form of pepeha designed for non-Māori to acknowledge their place in Aotearoa.
In traditional Māori practice, a pepeha connects a person to their whakapapa (genealogy), their whenua (land), and their iwi (tribe). For tangata Tiriti—those who are not Māori but live under the protection of Te Tiriti—a pepeha urutau serves as a pepeha whakarite, a comparative structure that acknowledges where they are from and how they have come to be in Aotearoa.
An example of a pepeha urutau might look like this:
Ko [The Mountain You Admire] te maunga e arohaina ana e au. (The mountain that is loved by me is [Your Mountain])
Ko [The River You Admire] te awa e arohaina ana e au. (The river that is loved by me is [Your River])
Ko [Your ancestry] tōku whakapaparanga mai. (My ancestry is [Your ancestry])
Ko [Your Home Country] te whenua tipu. (My home country is [Your Home Country])
Ko [Some place] tētahi wāhi i tipu au. ([A Place] is a place where I grew up.)
Ko Aotearoa te whenua noho. (Aotearoa is the land where I now live)
Ko Te Tiriti o Waitangi te kawenata e ahei ana taku nohonga. (Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the covenant that allows me to live here.)
Ko [Your name] tōku ingoa. (My name is [Your name].)
By crafting a pepeha urutau, you make explicit your relationship to this land and the agreement that made it a nation. You acknowledge that, as a resident or citizen of Aotearoa, your presence here is linked to Te Tiriti and its commitments.
Why This Matters
Developing your MTR is not just an academic exercise. It is a way to deepen your connection to Aotearoa and show respect for tangata whenua.
It allows you to:
Recognise Your Place: Understand that citizenship is not just about legal status; it comes with responsibilities to the land and people.
Engage Meaningfully: Move beyond token gestures and engage in genuine, informed relationships with Māori communities.
Be a Treaty Partner: Support efforts to honour Te Tiriti and its principles in contemporary Aotearoa.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not just a historical document—it is a living agreement that continues to shape the country today. As a citizen or resident of Aotearoa, developing your own My Tiriti Relationship is a way to honour that agreement and contribute to a more just and inclusive society.
Where to Start
Learn more about Te Tiriti o Waitangi—its history, its articles, and its impact.
Watch the series on Youtube: Waitangi, What Really Happened.
Consider how you can honour Te Tiriti in your work, community, and everyday life.
Develop and share your pepeha urutau as a way of expressing your connection to Aotearoa.
By taking these steps, you are not just living in Aotearoa—you are actively participating in the nation that Te Tiriti made possible.
Conclusion
Understanding and embracing your relationship with Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a meaningful step toward building a more inclusive and just Aotearoa. Whether you are new to this land or have lived here for many years, acknowledging Te Tiriti enriches your sense of belonging and deepens your respect for tangata whenua. By developing your own My Tiriti Relationship and sharing a pepeha urutau, you take an active role in recognising the past, engaging with the present, and shaping the future of Aotearoa as a nation where the principles of Te Tiriti are upheld and valued.
By taking these steps and working on your MTR, you are not just living in Aotearoa—you are actively participating in the nation that Te Tiriti made possible.
Kei te ora tonu Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Tiriti lives on.
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