Whakapapa: The Story Beneath Your Identity
We often think of identity as a list of roles: parent, partner, professional. We might define ourselves by our job title, our achievements, or the version of ourselves we present to the world. But beneath all of that—beneath the polished bios and curated posts—lives something deeper, older, and far more powerful: our whakapapa.
So… What is whakapapa?
Most people in Aotearoa New Zealand understand whakapapa as genealogy—our ancestral line. But it’s more than a family tree or a list of names and locations. Whakapapa is a story. It’s how we make sense of where we come from, who we are, and what shaped us. It’s our connection to the land, to lineage, to spirit—and to those who came before us.
During my Master of Creative Practice research, I was encouraged to explore my own te ao Māori heritage, something I resisted it at first. As someone of both Māori and Pākehā descent, I never felt fully connected to either world. I didn’t grow up fluent in te reo (the language). I didn’t feel “qualified” to stand in that space. But something called me forward.
And what I discovered cracked something wide open inside me.
Whakapapa isn’t just spoken. It’s felt.
During my research I asked my uncle, “Why share my whakapapa in a room where most people won’t even understand the language?”
He paused. Then he smiled.
“You’ll work it out, bubs.”
And I did.
After sitting in silence, surrounded by the presence of our tūpuna (ancestors), it hit me:
I had learned that when we share our whakapapa, we’re actually saying, “This is who I am, this is who I was and this is who comes with me.” But I questioned the relevance for my audiences.
Time passed. We sat in silence…….until this moment:
“Uncle, when we share our whakapapa are we also saying to our audiences, “I see who YOU are. I see who YOU were. And I see and honour all those who come with you, too?”
My Uncle smiled and replied “That’s a good start Bubs.”
I learned in that moment that sharing your whakapapa is not a performance. It’s a spiritual exchange. And it’s a bridge of connection that I had been looking for as a speaker.
Why it matters
It’s no surprise that our world feels disconnected—digitally wired, yet emotionally weary— and whakapapa is an ancient principle that gives us grounding. It reminds us that we are not floating aimlessly. We are part of a legacy. We carry the stories of those who stood before us. And when we speak them, we speak with their strength.
Confidence, I’ve learned, doesn’t come from being the loudest in the room.
It comes from knowing exactly who walks with you when you enter it.
And here’s the truth:
You don’t have to be Māori to have whakapapa.
We all have an origin story.
A trail of people, places, and experiences that shaped us.
And when you choose to own that story—consciously, proudly, and with love—something changes.
Your posture changes.
Your voice deepens.
Your presence expands.
Because you’re not just speaking from the surface anymore.
You’re speaking from the roots of your identity.
So let me ask you this:
What’s your whakapapa?
What are the moments, the mountains, the mentors, the messes, and the magic that made you?
When you start living from that place…
You don’t just change how people see you.
You change how you see yourself.
And that’s where real transformation begins.
