The 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. Begin by standing up and firmly shake hands with a gentle squeeze and say Kia Ora. 

2. Then place your left arm on his or hers right shoulder and look rigidly in the persons eyes. 

3. After that slowly and slightly bend your head and press your noses together gently for two seconds and then raise your head.

Rangi - The Sky Father

We described a character from the story Rangi and Papa

Rangi and Papa

Rangi the sky father lay in the heavens torn apart from his beloved Papa~the  earth mother. Tane~Mahuta, the forest god had heaved  apart  his  parents causing dazzling  sunlight  to flood the Islands. Seeing his own father so forlorn, Tane decided that he would light up the sky. Tane~Mahuta spread a beautiful ruby cloak over Rangi`s broad back, placed the saffron sun at his rear and last but not least he placed the exquisite silver moon at his front. Tane~Mahuta gazed up at the heavens and thought how somber his father felt at night. Then he placed an innumerable amount of stars on Rangi. To this day, Rangi still stares longingly at his lost love Papa.