Kihikihi loves languages. Kihikihi has mastered introducing herself in New Zealand Sign Language and te reo Māori.

My mountain is _______________________________________________

Ko _________________________________________________te maunga

TE REO mĀoRIWhen people formally introduce themselves in te reo, they often use a pepeha. This is a way of telling people where you come from and who your whānau (family) is. Fill in the blanks below to write your own basic pepeha.

KIA oRA TĀTOU

My ocean/river/lake is ________________________________________

Ko ________________________________________ te moana/awa/roto

I am from ____________________________________________________

Nō _____________________________________________________ ahau

My family name is ____________________________________________

Ko ______________________________________________ tōku whānau

My first name is ______________________________________________

Ko ________________________________________________ tōku ingoa

Ko WAI KoE?INTRoDUCE YoURSELF

A full pepeha can include a lot more detail. If you are interested, you might want to research and learn to recite your story more fully.

The website pepeha.nz can help you create a printout of your pepeha.

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Note: NZSL grammar structure is different to English. Just sign ‘my name what?’, then fingerspell your name.

Index fin

gers facing together. Move hands together.

KIA ORA

MEET

YOU

Use

you

r in

dex f

inger to point to the person you are referring to.

NICE

With

a fl

at h

and at your chin, move across and m

ake a fist.

MY

NAME

WHAT?

With

low

ered

eye

brows, extend index finger and move from

side to side.

..

deaf.org.nzTo learn more, check out nzsl.nz and learnnzsl.nz

NEW ZEALAND SIGN LANGUAGEHave fun with your whānau, family and friends.

Learn your name and teach others theirs!

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