
Stages of a Powhiri.
1. The gathering of the peoples "The Manuhiri (Visitors)" and "The Tangata Whenua (The Local People)"
2. Each group of people should say a small prayer or known as a Ko te Inoi
3.Ko Te Wero "Wero literally means - 'to cast a spear' and the purpose of the wero was to find out
whether the manuhiri came in peace or in war."
4. Karanga - normally a woman from the hosts side calls to signal the manuhiri to move forward. The purpose of this is to "weave a spiritual rope to allow
the waka of the manuhiri to be pulled on.
5. Haka - "the haka pohiri pulls on the canoe of
the manuhiri"
6. Mihi - A speaker from each side will communicate with one another.
7. Oriori - Waiata "The oriori is a chant which 'makes or breaks' the speech. Sometimes it is referred to as a
relish or a garnish of a speech. It should uphold the mana of the speaker and the group."
8. . Koha, traditionally the manuhiri side offers the Tangata Whenua side with gifts of either food or r local delicacies.
9. Hongi - sharing of each others breaths. And to shake hands.
10. Kai, breaking bread together. "This is the final stage of powhiri. The sharing and partaking of food lifts the final tapu
(sacredness) of the Powhiri ritual."
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Dominant ideologies play a pivotal role in defining stereotypes of other races, cultures, and beliefs. We live in a world where institutions disseminate dominant ideologies in support of those who hold power and wealth. One of the means by which these ideas are disseminated is through creating stereotypes of marginalised communities. “The stereotyping of Maori as the comic other has a history… where initial explorers caricatured Maori as having a childlike simplicity” (Wall, 1997). An example of this “childlike” stereotype was lampooned by the comedian Billy T. James through his simplistic character wearing a black singlet who presented a parody of the Maori News (Te Karere) called “Te News". Wall identifies another stereotype – “Maori as primitive natural athlete” (1997). In this stereotype she suggests there is a dated reference to Maori as “savage” and cannibalistic and a romanticised understanding of pre-European Maori as more physical than other peoples – this promotes a “white desire for black physicality” (Wall, 1997). Another stereotype is ‘Maori as radical political activists’ where they were seem as a culture without law therefore labelling them as a “Lesser Breed” (Gilroy, 1987)