In te ao Māori, we believe a deep understanding of who you are and where you come from provides the strength from which personal esteem, pride, and growth can flourish. Pepeha is used by Māori to draw on these deeper understandings and connect with one another.
Connecting with your Pepeha can also hold significance for non-Māori seeking to grow their understanding and appreciation of their own genealogy. By learning about your own personal story, you can gain insights into the ancestral ties to specific places and the rich tapestry of stories and traditions that shape your identity.
While it has become more prevalent in a Māori context for people to use Pepeha to introduce themselves, any introduction that strengthens understanding and connection is valid. Connecting with Pepeha encourages cultural empathy, respect, and a more inclusive worldview, promoting cross-cultural understanding and building bridges between communities.
We explore the origins of Pepeha and how to develop your own personal Pepeha by providing examples of a Māori and non-Māori Pepeha.