You have looked at the overview of a mihi and the different components needed. Now let's start at the beginning with the opening greeting.
The opening greeting sets the tone for the mihi and welcomes everyone present. This section helps establish the connection between the speaker and the audience.
With your first utterance and words, you need to show you are a good orator. That is why your introduction and opening words are so important. Have a think about great speakers and speeches you have listened to before. What is it that they do from their first line that gets your attention and makes you listen?
Pick Your Line(s)
Whakatuwhera literally means to open or begin. Look at these opening lines and select the best fit for you.
Beginner Options (basic structure)
Tēnā koutou katoa.
Tēnā koutou e aku rangatira.
Kia ora e te whānau.
Intermediate Options (more specific or expanded)
Tēnā koutou e ngā rangatira o te whare nei.
Tēnā koutou e tau nei.
Kia ora koutou katoa, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
Advanced Options (complex or formal)
-Ka huri, tēnā koutou katoa, kia ora tātou.
No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa, he wai.
A tauparapara is an incantation to open a speech, in a similar way to a karakia whakawhatu is an opening incantation to a meeting or gathering.
These tauparapara come from a pukapuka (book) written by Sam Rerekura called Whāikorero: Tauparapara. As Rerekura confirms, “Tauparapara is a formulaic chant to start a speech.”
Tribal chant
Ka tangi te tītī
Ka tangi te kākā
Ka tangi hoki ahau
As the sooty shearwater voices its presence
As the parrot voices its presence
So too do I
Hūtia
Hūtia te rito o te harakeke
Kei hea te Kōmako e kō
Kī mai koia ki au
He aha te mea nui o te ao
Mākū e kī atu
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
Pluck out the heart of the flax plant
And where would the Bellbird land
Ask me
What is the most important thing in the world?
I would reply by saying
It is people, it is people, it is people
Tuia te whenua
Tīhei mauri ora
Tīhei te rangi
Tuia te whenua
Tuia te ngākau o te tangata
Ko te aroha e kī a nei
Ka puta tātou i te rangi nei
Te aroha nei kia tātou ano hoki te iwi
I sneeze the breath of life
Bind that which is above
Bind that which is below
Bind the hearts of man
To the virtue of aroha
That has brought us here today
The aroha to all people
Now look to combine your beginner, intermediate or advanced greeting with the appropriate tauparapara.
What have you learnt about the significance of tauparapara? Try doing some research and select a tribal tauparapara from your rohe or region that has personal significance. It will pay to check as some our used only by tangata whenua (locals) and others by manuhiri (guests or visitors).