The Mihi
The mihimihi (or pepeha) is a brief personal speech used to introduce oneself in a way that goes beyond one's name. It offers the opportunity to express one's heritage (or whakapapa), one's links to this land, one's spiritual home and one's sense of purpose.
My Mihi
"Ko Moehau toku Maunga
Ko Tarawera toku Awa
Ko Ao Marama toku Marae
Ko ki te Ao Marama toku mahi
Ko Rawiri toku ingoa"
"Ko Moehau toku Maunga
Ko Tarawera toku Awa
Ko Ao Marama toku Marae
Ko ki te Ao Marama toku mahi
Ko Rawiri toku ingoa"
I name Moehau as my mountain to honour the sacredness of the air we breather.
I name Tarawera as my river to honour purity and tarnish and to remind me of the dance between the two.
I name Ao Marama as my marae because it is where I live, work and nourish my wife, my family, my friends, my colleagues and my self.
I name "ki te Ao Marama" as my work because it is. My work is bringing situations and people back to health, nearer to their potential and their purpose, closer to fulfilment.
And my name is David.
I name Tarawera as my river to honour purity and tarnish and to remind me of the dance between the two.
I name Ao Marama as my marae because it is where I live, work and nourish my wife, my family, my friends, my colleagues and my self.
I name "ki te Ao Marama" as my work because it is. My work is bringing situations and people back to health, nearer to their potential and their purpose, closer to fulfilment.
And my name is David.
Moehau is the mountain that is the main feature of the northern part of the Coromandel Peninsula. It is the burial place of Tamati Kapua, the captain of the Arawa canoe and translates literally as "sacred breath".
The Tarawera River emerges from the eastern end of Lake Tarawera and flows through Kawerau where for many years it provided the cooling for the timber mill. This process turned it from crystal clear to milky white which gradually cleared as the river continued its journey.
Marama is the moon, or more accurately the name of the woman who was banished to the moon for her deeds. Ao Marama translates as "towards the light" and is similar in meaning to "enlightenment".
Ki te Ao Marama is the act or time of bringing situations or people closer to the light or closer to their potential or purpose, either literally or metaphorically. It is the name of the time before dawn.
Kia Ora!
The Tarawera River emerges from the eastern end of Lake Tarawera and flows through Kawerau where for many years it provided the cooling for the timber mill. This process turned it from crystal clear to milky white which gradually cleared as the river continued its journey.
Marama is the moon, or more accurately the name of the woman who was banished to the moon for her deeds. Ao Marama translates as "towards the light" and is similar in meaning to "enlightenment".
Ki te Ao Marama is the act or time of bringing situations or people closer to the light or closer to their potential or purpose, either literally or metaphorically. It is the name of the time before dawn.
Kia Ora!