Glossary
Following is a brief description of some of the Māori words that appear on this site. The translations are not literal for many words hold a wealth of meaning that should become clear when placed in context.
A - K
- Aroha
- love
- Atua
- God, guardian
- Iwi
- Tribe, descended from one of the seven canoes which came to New Zealand
- Haere
- to move, to go
- Haere Mai
- to move towards the speaker, come here
- Hapū
- sub-tribe, a branch of the main iwi
- Kainga
- home
- Kete
- woven basket
- Korero
- talk, speak, words, language
- Korowai
- traditional cloak
J - P
- Mana
- honour, prestige, the essence of a person
- Manaakitanga
- caring, sharing
- Māori
- indigenous race of New Zealand
- Marae
- traditional meeting place
- Pā
- Māori village
- Papa
- earth, ground, soil
- Papatuanuku
- Mother Earth, nature
- Piupiu
- to swing or sway, name of the costume skirt
- Pohutu
- big splash or explosion
Q - T
- Rakau
- wood, stick
- Rauru
- spiral
- Roto
- lake, also the adverb for ‘in’
- Rotowhio
- lake of the blue or whistling duck
- Tangata
- person, people
- Tangata Whenua
- people of the land, the original inhabitants
- Taniwha
- ancient creature
- Te Puia
- the volcano or geyser. Also, name of an unbeatable fortress
- Te Rito
- the baby stem at the heart of the flax. Also, name of weaving school
- Te Wānanga Whakairo Rakau
- carving school
- Tikanga
- principles, protocols, guidelines
- Tupuna
- ancestor
U - Z
- Wai
- water
- Waka
- canoe, carrier, mode of transport
- Waka Taua
- war canoe
- Wānanga
- school of learning
- Whakairo
- the art of carving. Can also apply to weaving
- Whakairo rakau
- the art of wood carving
- Whakapapa
- heritage, past, genealogy, connection to land
- Whānau
- family
- Whare
- building, structure, house
- Wharenui
- large house, usually the sacred meeting house of tribes
- Whenua
- land
- Whio
- blue or whistling duck
