Giving a Koha at a Maori wedding

Hi all,

I'm an expat Pom and therefore Pakeha with not a heck of a lot of knowledge about Maori customs. We are going to a wedding in a month or so and have been asked on the invite to bring a koha to give to "the tanguta whenua" at the powhiri they are having.

I have NO idea how much this is supposed to be! Is this on top of the wedding gift? Is it going to the married couple, or the marae? Is it just a dollar or two, or would we be expected to give 5, 10 or more?
Don't really feel comfortable enough to ask the couple geting married, but figured someone on here must have some ideas! TIA!

from what i have read the koha is given by the person who speaks on behalf of the guests and the placing of the koha signifies the end of the speeches... so if you could find out perhaps who that is then talk to them.
coins would be insulting i think but if all the guests were going to be putting it together before it is given then they wouldnt know how much you individually gave so a $10 would be fine IMO. I am pretty sure the money is given to the marae and used for the upkeep of it.

If the wedding is on a marae...then the koha you are contributing to during the powhiri will go to the marae (tangata whenua means people of the land so therefore the people of the marae), so I would say $20 tops..even $5 dollars would be ok, just hand it over in an envelope to the person who will be speaking on the behalf of all the guests during the powhiri, before you are called on. This would be on top of a gift to the marrying couple. The koha helps pay for bills etc at the marae usually.

Edited by ooEvaoo