THE HOBBIT: An Unexpected Journey 2012
The cast and crew prior to the RED CARPET PREMIERE started off that morning with a Film Press Conference at the TE PAPA MUSEUM 'TONGAREWA MARAE'
They were greeted/welcomed with a maori welcome.
A Hongi is a traditional Maori greeting in Aotearoa/New Zealand. It is done by pressing noses together, during the hongi the ha or breath of life is exchanged and intermingled.
Through the exchange of this physical greeting, you are no longer considered a visitor or manuhiri, but rather tangata whenua, or one of the people of the land for the remainder of your stay.
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A Māori welcome on to a marae is a pōwhiri (or pōhiri). Marae are not the only places where pōwhiri take place - pōwhiri can happen anywhere that hosts (tangata whenua) wish to formally greet a group of visitors (manuhiri).
Māori is the language used during pōwhiri. While pōwhiri may vary according to the occasion and the tribal area, Māori language still guides pōwhiri. Basic pōwhiri include the following steps:
1.Karanga is a unique form of female oratory in which women bring a range of imagery and cultural expression to the first calls of welcome (and response) in the pōwhiri.
2.Whaikōrero or formal speech making follows the karanga. Some of the best Māori language orations are given during pōwhiri when skilled speakers craft the language into a series of verbal images. The protocols for whaikōrero during pōwhiri are determined by the kawa (practices) of the marae or local iwi if the pōwhiri is not held on a marae.
3.A waiata or song is sung after each whaikōrero by the group the orator represents. It is common to hear traditional waiata during pōwhiri.
4.Koha -- a gift, generally an envelope of money, is laid on the ground by the last speaker for the manuhiri (visitors). A local kuia (female elder) may karanga as an expression of thanks. A male from the tangata whenua will pick up the koha.
5.Hongi -- the pressing of noses signifies the joining together of tangata whenua and manuhiri. Tangata whenua invite the manuhiri to come forward to shake hands (hariru) and hongi.
6.Hākari -- the feast, a meal is then shared. This usually signifies the end of the pōwhiri.