powhiri

/ ˌpəʊˈfiːrɪ /

noun

1. a Māori ceremony of welcome, esp to a marae

Word History and Origins

Origin of powhiri¹

Māori

Example Sentences

Soccer’s world governing body has made a point of respecting the First Nations cultures of Australia and New Zealand at this Women’s World Cup, a theme that has run from the opening ceremony through every match, which begin in New Zealand with a powhiri, a Maori welcome ceremony.

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Visitors await the powhiri, a ritual welcoming people to the marae, a fenced-in complex of carved buildings belonging to a particular tribe.

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Harry and Meghan were greeted with a powhiri - a ceremony involving singing and dancing - in Wellington.

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As the last of the waka sailed into the harbor and darkness fell, a thousand people launched into an energetic haka powhiri, a chant and dance of welcome.

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Ancestors of the people whom the remains belong to were at Te Papa museum in Wellington on Friday to extend a powhiri, a traditional Māori welcome.

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