Mihi ki te tangata - Acknowledging People

Kaikarakia Mihi from Matariki on Vimeo.

Mihi ki te tangata - Acknowledging People

It is really important in Te Ao Māori to acknowledge people when they do things for you, represent you or do things on your behalf.

For example, at a hui Māori (Māori gathering), there will always be karakia at the start. The next speaker would mihi to the kaikarakia (prayer leader) as well as any leaders or kaumātua (elders) who have attended the gathering.

On Thursday a number of members of the school whānau as well as experts from the community are coming to the school to help us celebrate Matariki. This is an opportunity for students to speak on behalf of the school community to acknowledge their work and participation in making the day a success.

Every day, we can acknowledge the people in our class and school who do things for us. By giving you a format that you can start to use, you can learn different ways that you can acknowledge people in Māori in your everyday lives. Practice makes perfect! The more ‘active’ your participation, the quicker and more thoroughly you will master this new learning.

Mihi for the Kaikarakia for class every day

Tēnā koutou katoa,

He mihi nui ki a koutou aku hoa i tēnei rā.

Kia kaha te mahi!

Me karakia tātou.

Greetings everyone,

Warm greetings to you my friends today.

Work hard!

Let us say our karakia.

E tau nei ki runga i a tātou katoa te wairua aroha

Settle upon us the loving spirit

kia ngakaunui tātou ki te hāpai i ā tātou mahi katoa

to enable us to work together

i roto i te hari me te koa me te aroha anō o tētahi ki tētahi,

in joy and with respect toward one another

kia puawai tātou katoa.

so that we all grow and blossom together.

Whakakahangia tātou kia mahi tahi

Also strengthen us to work together

kia manaaki, kia tiaki

to nurture and look after

i tō tātou kura, i tō tātou hapori, i tō tātou taiao hoki.

our school, our school community and our environment.

Mauri ora!

Life force!

Mihi to acknowledge the kaikarakia and others

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Tēnā koe __________________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea/__________ mō tō āwhina mai i a mātou ki te ako.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for helping us to learn.

Once again, greetings to you all.

Mihi for Teachers to acknowledge the students

Tēnā koutou katoa

Tēnā koe ____________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā koe ____________ i tō mihi mai.

(He mihi nui ki a koe ____________ nāu i tautoko mai i a mātou i tēnei rā.)

Kia kaha tātou ki te mahi i tēnei rā.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

Thank you _________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you _________ for your acknowledgement

(Thank you __________ for your support of us today).

Let’s work hard today.

Therefore, greetings to you all

Extended versions

Version One

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Tēnā koe __________________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea/__________ mō tō āwhina mai i a mātou ki te ako.

(He mihi nui ki a koe ____________ nāu i tautoko mai i a mātou i tēnei rā.)

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for helping us to learn.

(Thank you __________________ for supporting us today.)

Once again, greetings to you all.

Version Two

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ki ngā mate, haere, haere, haere.

Ki te hunga ora, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe __________________ tō tātou kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea mō tō whakaako mai i a mātou i tēnei rā.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

To those who have passed on, go well on your journey.

To those of us who remain, greetings.

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for teaching us today.

Once again, greetings to you all.

Version Three

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ki ngā mate, haere, haere, haere.

Ki te hunga ora, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe __________________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea mō tō āwhina mai i a mātou.

He mihi nui ki a koe ___________ i tō mahi pai.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

To those that have passed on, travel well.

To those of us still here, greetings.

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for helping us to learn.

Well done ____________ for your good work.

Once again, greetings to you all.

Extras

Tēnā koe __________ i tō mahi pai i ngā whakataetae.

Well done ____________ for taking part in the competition.

He mihi nui ki a koe _______ i tō rā whānau.

Tēnā koe _________ i tō tautoko mai/ i tō āwhina mai.

Tēnā koe __________ i tō whakaako mai.

Tēnā koe ___________ mō tēnei taonga.