Pepeha Urutau for Visitors to New Zealand: Why They Matter Beyond Aotearoa

Are you an overseas visitor to New Zealand? Have you heard of a pepeha or specifically a pepeha whakarite? For non-Māori, we have designed a pepeha urutau, which is a type of pepeha whakarite. For many like yourself, the idea of creating a pepeha urutau - a personal introduction grounded in place and identity - can feel unfamiliar. Traditionally, a pepeha Māori (the other type of pepeha whakarite) expresses the ancestral and geographic ties of tangata whenua (the Indigenous people of the land). But what about pepeha urutau - adapted pepeha for non-Māori such as yourself? Is it appropriate for you, as a visitor to Aotearoa for only a short time, to create one? And if so, how might this learning carry value even after you’ve left?

This blog post delves into the deeper meaning behind the pepeha urutau. It explores how understanding pepeha can help both short-term visitors and long-term residents honour Māori culture, reflect on their own identity, and foster respectful relationships while in Aotearoa- and beyond.

Is it Appropriate for Visitors to Create a Pepeha Urutau?

Yes - when done respectfully and with cultural guidance, it is entirely appropriate for visitors to New Zealand to create a pepeha urutau. It can be a meaningful step in learning about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and understanding one’s place in the cultural and historical landscape of Aotearoa.

Unlike pepeha Māori, which refer to ancestral ties to specific mountains, rivers, and iwi (tribes), a pepeha urutau acknowledges the geographic and cultural grounding of a visitor without making claims to indigeneity. It might mention a local maunga (mountain), awa (river), and city or suburb where the visitor is staying, alongside a reference to where they have come from and the purpose of their visit.

By crafting a pepeha for non-Māori, short-term visitors engage in an act of cultural humility. It says: I acknowledge the whenua (land) I stand on, the people who belong to it, and the stories I am now part of.

How Can a Pepeha Urutau Help After Leaving New Zealand?

While a pepeha urutau is born in Aotearoa, its value doesn’t disappear when you board your flight home. Instead, this expression of identity becomes a lifelong taonga - a treasure that offers clarity, perspective, and connection wherever you go.

Here’s how:

1. Strengthens Cultural Identity and Self-Reflection

Learning how to construct a pepeha urutau prompts you to reflect on your own sense of place and belonging. It encourages you to consider your whakapapa (origins), home landscapes, and values. This depth of reflection enriches your understanding of cultural identity - not just in New Zealand, but globally wherever you are.

2. Builds Respectful Cross-Cultural Practice

Creating a pepeha for non-Māori teaches more than structure - it teaches tikanga, or the right way of doing things. Visitors learn to engage with Indigenous worldviews in ways that are careful, accurate, and non-appropriative. These lessons extend beyond Aotearoa and can inform how visitors can engage with Indigenous communities in their own countries or other places.

3. Sparks Ongoing Connection to Māori Values

Even after leaving Aotearoa, many visitors report that learning about pepeha helped them appreciate Māori values such as manaakitanga (hospitality), whanaungatanga (relationship), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). These values are universally relevant and can help individuals make more ethical and connected choices in their daily lives and professional pursuits.

4. Creates Lasting Awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Understanding pepeha is often the gateway to learning about Te Tiriti o Waitangi - the foundational agreement that underpins life in Aotearoa. For short-term visitors, this knowledge provides a richer context for their stay. For those who return home, it can spark an interest in Indigenous rights and relationships wherever they reside.

Conclusion: A Small Step, A Lasting Impact

Creating a pepeha urutau is not about claiming belonging - it’s about showing respect. It’s a way of saying: I may be here only for a moment, but I wish to walk thoughtfully, speak carefully, and acknowledge what has come before me.

For short-term visitors to New Zealand, a pepeha urutau is a gift they can carry home. It helps them deepen their cultural identity, honour the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and take Māori values into their global lives.

If you’re here in Aotearoa, even briefly, we encourage you to start this small journey. Understanding pepeha may open doors you never expected—and plant seeds that keep growing long after you’ve left.