Maori words in English
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Transcript of Maori words in English
some key Māori words in
New Zealand
English
whānau Extended family. Not just parents and children but the wider family group including grandparents,
aunts, uncles, cousins etc.
“A man who "sacrificed his own life" to save his two daughters and a 7-
year-old niece from drowning is being hailed a hero by his whānau.”
Otago Daily Times 03/01/2015
“We are all proud of how she balances her own whānau life while
studying mathematics post-graduate papers and delivering her
teaching workload.” Gisborne Herald 03/01/2015
“Cowley said everyone in New Zealand has a part to play in helping
others stop smoking, and that the support of friends and whānau is
vital once someone makes the decision to quit.” Scoop 01/12/2014
te reo Māori Te reo Māori is the Māori language. For Māori, the language is a taonga (treasure) from God and
their ancestors. It is found nowhere else in the world and is one of the unique features of New
Zealand heritage.
“Here are two copies of the New Zealand National Anthem, one is in English and
the other is in te reo Māori”.
“McDougall says the ‘culture of
creativity’ in Wellington has
enabled them to combine studying
with making music. He is
currently finishing a BA in
marketing and te reo Māori at
Victoria University.” The
Dominion Post 11/01/2015
E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarangona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa
God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Te Papa The common name for the Museum of New Zealand located on the waterfront in Wellington. It is
short for ‘Te Papa Tongarewa’ which translates approximately as ‘the place of treasures of this
land’.
“Te Papa plans to move up to half its treasures out of
Wellington in the long term, according to documents
obtained by The Dominion Post. The national museum
announced last September that it would move some
collections north to reduce earthquake risk, as part of a
plan to build a new South Auckland collections and
exhibition centre.” Stuff 06/09/2014
“Scientists will get a second chance to defrost and
examine a colossal squid at Te Papa, after one of the
rarely seen creatures was caught on a fishing boat
longline off Antarctica.” Stuff 11/08/2014
“Te Papa's mission has always been impossible. It
wanted to appeal, if not to everybody, then nearly
everybody. Its founding ideal was a noble, democratic
one: to interest 14-year-olds from poor suburbs as well
as the cultural elite.” The Dominion Post 06/09/2014
Matariki In the Māori language Matariki is both the name of the Pleiades star cluster (shown in the picture
below) and also of the season of its first rising in late May or early June—and thus is traditionally
considered as the beginning of the New Year by Māori.
“Matariki has evolved from being a time when Māori would cultivate
their crops and collect seafood and birds, to being like New Zealand's
Thanksgiving. In our family, it is when we all get together and look at
what we have done and where we are headed.” The New Zealand
Herald 20/07/2014
“Oromahoe School's Light Festival, one of the Mid North's winter
highlights, is returning on Saturday, June 28. The evening event
celebrates Matariki, the Māori New Year, and is the school's
main fundraiser. It is now in its sixth year.” The Northern
Advocate 25/06/2014
““Māori traditionally flew kites to symbolise Matariki or Māori
New Year (Pleiades), in a way the kite was seen as a sacred
thread connecting heaven and earth,” says John Postlethwaite,
Taniwha & Dragon Organising Committee.” Scoop 19/04/2013
pākehā This is the word for people of European descent living in New Zealand.
“The New Zealand coat of arms (shown at left) features a man
and a woman symbolising both the Pākehā and Māori peoples of
this land.”
““We’ve been humbled by support for the Māori Party out there
in the community especially from Pākehā and those from other
cultures,” says Māori Party Co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell.” Scoop
10/09/2014
“A new heritage park commemorating the first chapter in New
Zealand's history as a nation of Māori and Pākehā is due to be
opened in the Bay of Islands this weekend.” The Northern
Advocate 19/12/2014
iwi In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means
'peoples' or 'nations', and is often translated as ‘tribe’.
“Tourism operators and Far North residents have been told by the
Government that they have "nothing to worry about" after local iwi
expressed a wish to restrict vehicle access to Ninety Mile Beach.” The New
Zealand Herald 06/11/2014
“The map at left shows the locations traditionally inhabited by the various
iwi of New Zealand.”
“Te Ururoa Flavell (pictured
at right) is a New Zealand
politician who became co-
leader of the Māori Party in
2013. He belongs to the
Ngati Rangiwewehi and
Ngapuhi iwi and lives in
Rotorua”.
Aotearoa New Zealand. The common literal translation is ‘the land of the long white cloud’.
“The settlement of Aotearoa, just 750 years ago, was the last step
in the great human journey, from Africa to Aotearoa and
everywhere in between in 60,000 years.” The New Zealand Herald
09/01/2015
“Even with all the initiatives in place here in Aotearoa helping to
protect Kiwi (the bird), its decline is still very much a concern. ”
Māori Television 07/01/2015
“For we are diverse! People have come to
Aotearoa from all corners of the world,
bringing their histories, languages and
cultures, their art, music and dance,
their food and traditions of hospitality,
and their spiritual and religious beliefs.”
The New Zealand Herald 11/12/2014
hāngī An earth oven to cook food with steam and heat from heated stones.
“About 500 people gathered at the marae, which
included a hāngī of hundreds of potatoes, 500
chicken legs, 40 pumpkins, 15 cabbages, four
sheep and three pigs.” The Press 06/02/2013
“He said it was important people remember to keep a hāngī a safe distance
from houses and fences and make sure hoses and adequate water were nearby.”
Taranaki Daily News 25/12/2013
hongi A hongi is a traditional Māori greeting. It is done by pressing one's nose and forehead to another
person’s at the same time.
“This morning Dr Merkel was welcomed at Government House
with a hongi, haka and a 19-gun salute.” (Describing German
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to New Zealand) The New
Zealand Herald 14/11/2014
“I gave her a hongi and
we hugged and she
burst into tears. She
was just so
overwhelmed and
moved." The New
Zealand Herald 23 10
2013
marae The open area in front of the wharenui (meeting house), where formal greetings and discussions
take place. Often also used to describe the complex of buildings around the marae.
“Hundreds of visitors have been welcomed on to
Otakou Marae, Dunedin, in brilliant sunshine for
the South’s Ngai Tahu Treaty Festival, aimed at
bringing community together.” Stuff 06/02/2014
“Nearly 400,000 Māori know which of the
country’s 800-plus marae is theirs, and most
would like to visit more often, according to the
first report of its kind from Statistics New
Zealand.” Stuff 15/12/2014
“Every month a Whangarei woman deposits
money into Kairau Marae's bank account.
Despite living hundreds of kilometres away the
76-year-old feels connected to the place and does
what she can to contribute.” Taranaki Daily
News 09/01/2015
kia ora Hi. This informal Māori greeting literally means ‘be well/healthy’, but is used as an informal ‘hi’ by
New Zealanders. It also means ‘thank you’.
“New Zealand soldiers are teaching their Australian counterparts in Timor-Leste to
say kia ora and play soccer with the locals.” TVNZ 03/04/2009
"Far too often we go overseas and do a haka and say 'kia ora' and all of that sort of
carry-on, but still don't appreciate that the X factor for this country is the Māori
factor." Stuff 20/11/2014
“One of the world's most powerful
men, President Xi greeted the
audience, saying ‘kia ora’ and saying
that while in New Zealand he felt
the sense of ‘100 per cent pure’, the
slogan of Tourism New Zealand.”
Stuff 21/11/2014
koru A spiral pattern derived from the unfolding of a fern leaf. Symbolizing new life, growth, strength
and peace it is commonly used in Māori art, carving and tattoos.
“The airline's livery will change from just the blue and teal
(this colour ■) koru on the tail to the entire rear section of
the plane being painted black with both the koru and
Tourism NZ's fern.” 3 News 11/06/2013
"If somebody's got a koru on their arm, is that going to
scare the tourists? I think it's a bit rich that Air NZ ... are
outlawing on their staff something that's on the tail of
the plane.” The New
Zealand Herald 29/05/2013
k ūmara Sweet potato
“She said they started peeling kūmara and
potatoes on Monday, just so they could get
everything done in time.” Radio New Zealand
25/12/2014
“In New Zealand the majority of
kūmara is grown in Northland
where the soil type and climatic
conditions suit kūmara
perfectly.” The Southland
Times 08/08/2014
kai Food
“They had brought kai from home, such as potatoes,
kumara and sausages, harvested cress and provided
cooking utensils…” Northern News 10/08/2011
“Mr Makiha said the first new moon after the rise of
Matariki was critical for the harvesting of kai and
for starting afresh. ‘Back then you had to rely on
Matariki getting your own food for the survival of
your families from the rivers, the lakes and seas.’”
The New Zealand Herald 27/06/2014
“The father and daughter set off from Mahia
Peninsula with their uncle yesterday, to gather kai
moana (food from
the sea) for an
upcoming family
wedding.” Stuff
07/11/2014
pounamu Greenstone, nephrite, jade
“In an interview, [Orlando] Bloom told
ONE News Europe Correspondent Jessica
Mutch that he has a strong affinity with
New Zealand and always wears his
pounamu necklace.” TVNZ 04/12/2014
“A 175kg block of pounamu seized by
Customs officials was returned to West
Coast Māori today, amid a crackdown on
illegal trade in the Ngai Tahu-owned
stone.” The New Zealand Herald
26/12/2012
pōwhiri A traditional Māori welcome ceremony for visitors that often, but not always, takes place on a
marae. It consists of performances, speeches, singing and begins with a wero, an aggressive
challenge to guests using ceremonial weapons.
“The buses circled the
town before coming to a stop at the Pahiatua town hall
where they were welcomed by a pōwhiri.” Manawatu
Standard 30/10/2014
“She was welcomed to the school at a pōwhiri two
weeks ago and "handed over" to her new school by
representatives from her former school, Kavanagh
College, who travelled to Timaru from Dunedin for the
occasion.” The Timaru Herald 29/05/2013
haka A dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with
rhythmically shouted accompaniment. It used to be performed by warriors before battle to scare
the enemy but is now used to welcome important guests, acknowledge great achievements,
occasions or funerals.
“A victorious John Key was honoured with a
fearsome haka when he emerged from his house
tonight.” (Following his election night victory)
TVNZ 20/09/2014
“A video of the passionate haka performed by the
comrades of three fallen New Zealand soldiers has
gone viral, with tens of thousands of people
around the world watching the clip.” (Following
the funeral of three Kiwi soldiers killed in
Afghanistan) The New Zealand Herald 28/08/2012
Waitangi Waitangi is a place in the Bay of Islands in the north of New Zealand. On 6th February 1840, over
500 Māori chiefs with a few dozen British settlers gathered together there to establish an
agreement between the indigenous people of Aoteoroa (New Zealand) and the British Crown. The
Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of
New Zealand. Each year on the 6th February
Kiwis remember the day the Treaty was signed
through a public holiday called Waitangi Day.
“On Waitangi Day most Kiwis opt
for a barbecue, go to a concert or
take the chance to go to the beach
like any other day off. They make a
point of making the day quite
ordinary, and I understand why.”
The Dominion Post 05/02/2013
“New ways to learn about New
Zealand history have been introduced to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in time for the 175th
anniversary of the signing of the Treaty. The new features are part of an estimated $12.5 million
redevelopment project which includes a $9.5 million museum.” The Northern Advocate 14/01/2015
waka A traditional Māori canoe (a type of boat). These can be of a variety of sizes, with some waka taua
(war canoes) up to 40m long. These are now mainly used for ceremonial purposes.
“The biennial event saw waka ama teams
race 25km from Okahu Bay in the
Waitemata Harbour across the water and
over land to the Manukau Harbour.”
Manukau Courier 18/02/2014
“An ancient waka found on the South
Island’s West Coast has created a scientific
sensation around the world. The 600-year-
old canoe, with a turtle carved on its hull, is
proving that Polynesians sailed between
what is now French Polynesia and New
Zealand.” Stuff 02/10/2014
wero Challenge. This is part of a traditional Māori greeting or pōwhiri. A young warrior will approach
the most important guest in a group with a taiaha (a type of spear). This is a non-verbal way of
determining the motives of the visitors. A gift is placed at the feet of the guest. If the guest picks
the gift up then this indicates they accept the challenge and that the interactions between the two
sides will therefore be peaceful.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping about to accept the wero
during a welcome ceremony.” (shown at left)
“As baby Prince George was taken inside out of the chilly,
windy conditions, all eyes were on another George at the
traditional pōwhiri to William and Catherine. George
Mana, a warrant officer in the Royal New Zealand Air
Force, was the warrior who
issued the wero, or
challenge, to the Duke.”
(shown at bottom) The New
Zealand Herald 08/04/2014
whakapapa Genealogy. A fundamental principle in Māori culture. Whakapapa is about a Māori person’s
connections to other people and his/her relationship with other people through common ancestors.
Māori people frequently recount their whakapapa when formally introducing themselves and it is
considered to define their
identity.
"Social networks help Māori maintain links
with their heritage, and create an
alternative to the oral tradition of
whakapapa that usually takes place on the
marae.” Stuff 20/11/2014
“A new Taranaki Māori archive research
and training centre is set to become a base
for Māori wanting to research their
whakapapa.” Taranaki Daily News
27/08/2014