Pōhiri at Toi Ohomai
We are pleased to welcome you to Toi Ohomai with a formal Māori welcome, called a pōhiri. The pōhiri recognises you as a newcomer to Toi Ohomai and welcomes you onto Tangatarua Marae (Mokoia Campus) or Pomare (Windermere Campus). These places are sacred ceremonial places of gathering.
For many people, pōhiri will be a new experience that allows you to experience first-hand an important part of Māori and Toi Ohomai culture.
General pointers on what the pōhiri entails:
- As a sign of respect, please wear black or dark-coloured clothing. Women wear below-knee-length skirts. Dress appropriately for the weather, which is often sunny and very hot at the start of the year.
- Please assemble at the waharoa (marae entrance) where you will be met by a Toi Ohomai kaimahi (staff member) who will explain the pōhiri process.
- They will also ask if your group has a kaikaranga (person to call on behalf of your group) and kaikōrero (person to speak on behalf of your group).
- The karanga (call) is your signal to enter the marae. Women lead the way.
- If you are to be seated inside, please remove your shoes and leave them on the porch. If you are seated outside you can leave your shoes on.
- When you arrive at the seats, men sit in the front rows, and women sit behind the men. Traditional Māori speeches of welcome and songs follow.
- At the end of the formal speeches a Toi Ohomai representative will address the assembly in Māori and English.
- After their words of welcome, you will be invited to harirū (shake hands or hongi) with the tangata whenua. If there are several manuhiri, it’s likely that only the first rows of men and women will participate in the harirū. The tangata whenua will advise you on what to do.
- You will be invited into the wharekai (dining hall) for light refreshments. This concludes the pōhiri.
The pōhiri takes about 45 minutes (varies from campus to campus). We trust it will be the first of many positive experiences while you are with us at Toi Ohomai.
For more information about the pōhiri process, please refer to the following Pōhiri Guide.