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Story: Birthdays and wedding anniversaries

The symbolism of the pare

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The symbolism of the pare

The intricate carving of the 21st-birthday pare can be seen in this close-up. It was accompanied by the following greeting:

Tēnei rā te kuwaha ki ngā tau e heke nei
Anei te Pare he tohu rangatira e,
Ko te manaakitanga, te arohatanga,
te wairuatanga, me te whanaungatanga e,
Ngā pou hei arahi koe i ngā wā katoa,
Tēnā rā koe, tēnā rā koe, tēnā rā koe!

(This is the passage to the years that will follow.
Here is the Pare that is a sign of leadership, hospitality, loving kindness, spirituality and kinship.
These are the anchor points that will guide you at all times.
Warm greetings to you on this day!)

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Birthdays and wedding anniversaries – Birthday rituals, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/40241/the-symbolism-of-the-pare (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 8 April 2013.