How to lay a Hangi

Tangaroa and the Taniwha

The night was dark and dreary was a stormy night, thunder rumbled and the wind howled.

The waves crashed and the wind blew angrily. The Maori had left Hawaiki in their wakas in search of a new land.

Suddenly from far below the sea rose a tremendous taniwha with enormous eyes, a huge turquoise body, sharp horns and a moko on his mata. The enormous taniwha ate some of the wakas in one huge gobble.

Hearing the sound of destruction brought Tangaroa to the surface to see what was happening. Tangaroa the god of the sea appeared from under the surface with long hair and a moko on his mata. He was a sea warrior. He was a strong muscular god. He was bigger than a tall totara tree. His hands were massive and he held a patu.

Tangaroa shouted “What are you doing in my sea!?” “I am going to chop you into pieces”. The taniwha started to worry. Tangaroa again whacked angrily with his razor sharp patu into the taniwha’s enormous flesh. The tanwhia shrieked out in pain “Grrrrrrr”. The beaten taniwha, close to death,  leaked blood the colour of the black night. The ocean turned into a red blanket of blood. The taniwha lay in three pieces

The sea was safe for everyone. Over time the three pieces of the taniwha turned into the islands of Aotearoa.

The Waka

Splash! Go all the oars of the tattooed warriors. The oars then reappear above the surface. Seagulls squawk above the water.  Strong tattooed hands push to the rhythmic chants “tahi, rua, toru, wha!” The men rowing on the waka are saying it again and again.

Anxiously we ready for a fight.

The waka is getting closer to the island. The island  is full powerful men with their patu and their long taiaha. When we arrive it is very serious, they stomp their feet and poke out their tongue and said “we are not scared, we are gonna eat you all”.

How to Hongi

The Hongi 

What is a hongi? 

A hongi is the pressing of noses, which symbolises the exchange of the breath of life 

When does the hongi happen? 

When the tangata whenua side indicates that the speeches are complete, the manuhiri speakers approach the tangata whenua to hongi 

What to do.

1. Say kia ora gently shake hands with a adult  and squeeze it a little bit
2. Then put your lift hand on their right shoulder 
3. After that sensibly a little press on there nose but not a hard push 



The hongi is a greeting that shows respect to the tangata whenua therefore it is important you do it correctly.