The Powhiri

• The powhiri is the welcome ceremony for visitors at official occasions.
• Most Powhiri begin with a karanga performed by senior women followed by a wero performed by one or more of the local warriors.
• The warriors will challenge the warriors using intimidating movements with weapons such as the taiaha or patu.
• The moves are designed to highlight the warriors skill with these weapons and deter any attacker.
• The lead warrior will then lay down the kopere as a peace  offering for the visitors to accept prior to entry.
• Having accepted the kopere,the visitors move onto the marae atea,the ground directly in front of the wharenui,and then move to the right,facing the building.
• A roopu kapahaka may retrieve the words of welcome with tribal songs until the visitors are seated and ready to begin the formal speeches.
• The speeches and songs that follow are considered part of the powhiri process.
• The ceremony only concludes when each of the tangata whenua personally welcomes the manuhiri with a hongi.
• It is this act of sharing breath that confirms the whanaungatanga and reaffirms the old maori adage,’Tihe I mauri ora-let there be life.’Sharing breath is as seen as sharing life.