Preparing for NZNO conference powhiri.

As with the powhiri held at the start of NZNO's primary health care conference in Auckland earlier this month, the powhiri that begins next month's NZNO conference at the same venue will be organised according to Ngati Whatua protocol. This is because this is the iwi living in this particular rohe, says Te Runanga o Aotearoa NZNO member and member of the two conference organising committees Paulette Taylor. "The powhiri will be quite short--just half an hour," said Taylor. "It will be important for delegates to be seated before this begins at 10am, as people will be asked to remain in the foyer if they arrive late. It is too distracting and impolite to have people walking in front of the stage once the formal proceedings are underway."

The finer details of how the powhiri will be organised will be discussed on the day, says Taylor. This includes such matters as how many speakers there will be on each side, ie from the tangata whenua and from the manuhiri, and what order they will speak in. Speeches will cover the setting of the conference, its theme and who the keynote speakers are. NZNO's kaumatua and kuia will be Koro and Te Auwe Te Pania, Rev Leo te Kira and whaea Vera Morgan. After each speech, the supporting wahine will initiate a waiata, which acts as a relish to the spoken word. The powhiri usually includes the presentation of a koha to the Local iwi. This is considered a contribution to the costs of hosting the visitors. Once the speeches and waiata are completed, the tangata whenua will greet the manuhiri with a hongi, kihikihi or hand shake. Only those on the stage will be expected to take part in this protocol. During this ceremony and the cup of tea that follows, the tangata whenua continue to welcome the manuhiri as part of the family. The kuia and kaumatua are free to stay for the whole conference or to drift in and out as they choose.

At the end of the hui or conference, a poroporoaki is held, during which Ngati Whatua kaumatua will do a dosing karakia, then invite others to contribute in any way they choose. The manuhiri may do a performance of some kind--a skit or song--as a way of thanking their hosts for their hospitality. This is considered an optional tikanga, which NZNO members may choose to follow if they wish.