Sharing my pepeha

Kia Ora Tātou

Greetings all

Ko Parihaka te Maunga

Parihaka is the Mountain

Ko Hātea Te awa

Hātea is the river

Nō Kawakawa Ahau

I am from Kawakawa

Ko Connop Tōku Whānau

Connop is my family

Ko Nicholas Tōku ingoa

Nicholas is my name.

I write my pepeha with all due respect to tangata whenua.

My Whanau has been in Aotearoa New Zealand for 179 Years. Early settlers Emigrated to New Zealand on the Bombay in 1842 from England. With the first Connop arriving in 1871.

I was born in Kawakawa and have live in Whangārei since 1990.

I reference Parihaka as it has been my closest maunga and experiences I have had in and around the space. Flowing tributaries join into the Hātea.

I reference Hātea, as the river running through Whangārei, experiences and helping with others to look after its health.

Kia kaha

Māori Language Moment 2021