Glossary
The Māori words listed below are sometimes used untranslated in Te Ara’s English-language entries. They often have no precise English equivalents, or may have several meanings. Many are in general usage in New Zealand speech.
A–I K–P R–T U–W
A–I
ariki
first-born male or female of a family of senior rank
aroha
compassion, empathy, love
atua
god; supernatural being or creature that reveals the spirit world; Christian God
aukati
border; boundary line
haka
dance of challenge and welcome; chant accompanying a dance with actions
hāngī
earth oven
hapū
descent group, clan; modern meaning: section of a tribe, secondary tribe; literally: to have conceived
hīkoi
a march; to march or walk
hongi
to press noses in greeting
hui
meeting, assembly, coming together
iwi
set of people bound together by descent from a common ancestor or ancestors; literally: bone; modern meaning: tribe
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K–P
kāinga
home, place of abode, lodgings, quarters
kaitiaki
custodian, guardian
kapa haka
Māori cultural or performing group
karakia
incantation, charm, spell, ancient rites, invocation; Christian prayers
kaumātua
elder, senior man or woman, community leader
kawa
tribal protocol followed on a marae; ceremonies of greeting and farewell
kōrero
speech, story, oratory; to speak
kōwhaiwhai
painted scroll ornamentation on traditional houses
kūpapa
Māori allies of the Crown
mana
authority, power, psychic force, prestige
manaakitanga
hospitality, generosity
mana motuhake
independence, self-determination
mana whenua
power associated with possession and occupation of tribal land
Māoritanga
Māori culture, including the identity, values, traditions, practices and beliefs of the Māori people
marae
open space or courtyard where people gather, generally in front of a main building or meeting house; forum of social life; modern meaning: the complex of buildings surrounding the courtyard and the courtyard itself
maunga, mounga
mountain
mauri
life principle; material object that is a symbol of the hidden principle protecting vitality
moko
tattoo on face or body
mokopuna
grandchild, grandchildren, child or grandchild of a son, daughter, nephew, niece
pā
fortified refuge or settlement
Pākehā
non-Māori, usually of British ethnic origin or background
pōwhiri, pōhiri
invitation, rituals of encounter, welcome ceremony
piupiu
waist-to-knees garment made of flax
puhi
young woman of rank reserved for arranged marriage; virgin
pūkana
to enlarge the eyes, an expression made by someone performing haka
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R–T
rāhui
prohibition; the setting aside of a place or thing for a specified time; permanent reservation of land for a specific purpose
rangatahi
younger generation, youth
rangatira
well-born, well-bred person; chief, male or female; leader of a tribe
rangatiratanga
domain or autonomous authority of the rangatira, sometimes sovereignty; chiefly qualities of a rangatira
rūnanga
tribal or public assembly, conference, council
tangata
human being, person
tangata whenua
literally: person or people of the land; people belonging to a tribal region; hosts as distinct from visitors
tangihanga
ceremony of mourning
taniwha
guardian, legendary monster
tapu
sacred; under religious restriction
taua
war party
te reo Māori
the Māori language
tikanga
practice, convention, protocol
tino rangatiratanga
sovereignty, control
tīpuna
ancestors, grandparents
tohunga
priest; expert in traditional lore; person skilled in specific activity; healer
tukutuku
ornamental lattice-work between upright slabs of the walls in a traditional house
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U–W
utu
revenge, recompense, reward, price, payment; repayment in goods; retribution in battle
wāhi tapu
sacred place, sacred site
waiata
chant, song, poetry; to chant, to sing
wero
challenge, to challenge
whaikōrero
oratory, formal speech-making
whakairo
carving
whakapapa
genealogical table; to recite in proper order; literally: to place in layers
whānau
extended family group; to be born; modern meaning: family
whanaungatanga
kinship, connection
whare
house, dwelling
wharenui
meeting house, large house; main building of a marae where guests are accommodated
whare wānanga
school of learning; modern meaning: university
whenua
literally: afterbirth; land, ground, earth, a country
whētero
to protrude the tongue, an expression performed by men during haka
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