Mostly Maori

So, today was the second day of orientation; this time with the rest of the new students not just the internationaals. It began with a traditional Maori Welcome called a Powhiri (Poh-firri). The Powhiri is a welcome ceremony into a Marae (Mor-eye). It removes the sacredness of the Manuhiri (visitors) to make them one with the Tangata Whenua (home people). It began with a Wero (challenge)which is carried out to asertain the intentions of the group, the male worriors approach the visitors and place down a dart and depending on how the dart was picked up by the manuhiri would determine weather or not they came in peace...we did. The next part was the Karanga (call) which was performed by a female of the home people, it is the first voice heard in the ceremony and is meant to weave a spiritual rope allowing safe passage for the manuhiri to enter onto the marae. The next part is something that ive seen a few times since ive been here, its called the Haka. The Haka is a dance originally done by worriors to psych themselves up before battle, now it has transformed and is used in many different ways, the most seen is performed before Rugby matches. This one was a welcome Haka. Its pretty intense. The next part was the Mihi (speeches) where the leader of the home people acknowledged the past, present and future, and to recognize the creator, guardians, the hinga mate (the dead), and the hunga ora (the living-those present at the powhiri). The Maori have a great respect for the things around them so whenever people are gathered they always acknowledge the building around them and the people there. Keep in mind this entire ceremony was spoken in Maori, so i wasnt understanding any of it, but they gave us an explanation sheet. The next part is the Waiata (song)which is performed to show the speaker that we understood and respected what was said. The next part was awesome, it was the traditional greeting called the Hongi. The hongi is the first physical contact between the two groups and is performed by pressing the nose and forhead together with a member of the host people, only the first 3 rows of the marae got to do it, but it was really cool to watch. Then the final part is the Kai (food, or morning tea). This symolizes the removal of the Tapu and the whenua and the manuhiri becoming one. Whew. There is your history lesson for the day.
We also met with our Uni-guides (OL's) and were given a tour of the campus, it was fun. but i let you go and write more about that later. thanks for reading.