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Powhiri Nursing
With the Powhiri, we at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic begin the first step in calling our new students and staff to our place where we can collectively come face to face with each other. Two parties will meet as strangers and the pōwhiri is both a process and activity to navigate a pathway to reduce the divide and grow the prospect of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic as a stunning place for our new students and staff to learn and to be, and moreover, to stay.
Our new students and staff are accorded an extra special status as visitors to our place. They are manuhiri (visitors/strangers) and bring with them their own uniqueness and prestige. Their fronting and attendance at this event enhances our mana and is equally their recognition of us as hosts for this new encounter. There are expectations from both sides, but the hosts (us) have much to gain or lose depending on how well we honour our new students and staff.
We call this first stage of receiving and transforming our new students and staff into our extended Bay of Plenty Polytechnic whānau as the pōwhiri.
A pōwhiri is a bit more than a welcome ceremony, neither is it uniquely Māori, it is a wonderful universal process of engagement and hopefully sets the basis for a long enduring relationship with the land, people and the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
Powhiri Order of Ceremony
The first call (karanga) to the visitors is always extended by a woman, never ever by a male. From a Maori perspective women are the embodiment of Papatuānuku (Mother earth) and perpetuate humankind.
The hosts will stand after the first call and remain standing until the manuhiri (visitors are seated).
Note – There have been times when we have not been able to seat everyone in which case it would be wise to encourage people in such circumstances to assume a non standing posture.
A woman will also respond to the call from the visitors.
The speeches (whaikorero) will alternate between tangata whenua (hosts) and manuhiri (visitors), always starting and concluding with the tangata whenua. This process is only varied if the visitors are intending to put up more speakers than the tangata whenua has available. Remember, your speech is always enhanced if it is supported with a waiata (song).
The speakers for the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic will be: (alternating)
- Kaumatua – tangata whenua – Tamati Tata – Waiata – E Hika
Manuhiri Speaker/s - Chief Executive – Waiata – Ehara i te mea – Final speaker.
There will be a sharing of food after the powhiri. Each school will have made their arrangements to return to their meeting places for kai(food) and other briefings.