Glossary of Māori terms
Most of these meanings have been derived from Kaitiakitanga and Local Government: Tangata Whenua participation in Environmental Management (PCE, 1998, p. 132); The Reed Dictionary of Modern Māori (Ryan, 2001); Poharama et al., (1998) and Durie, (2002).
Aotearoa: New Zealand
aroha: love, compassion, sympathy
arohatanga: state of being sympathetic
haka: fierce rhythmical dance
hangi: earth oven, food from earth oven
hapū: sub-tribe
hinengaro: mind, heart, intellect, conscience, psychology
hongi: press noses
hui: meetings or gatherings, usually on the marae
iwi: tribal groups
kaikokiri champion
kaitiaki: iwi, hapū, or whānau group with the responsibilities for kaitiakitanga
kaitiakitanga: the responsibilities and kaupapa, passed down from the ancestors, of tangata whenua to take care of the places, natural resources, and other taonga in their area
kanohi ki te kanohi: face to face
kapahaka: Māori cultural performances (song and dance)
kaumatua: elder
kaupapa: plan, strategy, tactics, methods, fundamental principles
kaupapa Māori research: Māori-based research
koru: spiral pattern
kotahitanga: unity, solidarity
mana tangata: human rights, integrity
manaakitanga: respect given to visitors, sharing and caring
manuhiri: visitor, guest
Māoritanga: Māori culture, Māori perspective
marae: local community and its meeting places and buildings
mauri: the life force that imbues all created things
nga matatini Māori: Māori diversity
ngā tupunga whakakotahi: integrated development
pa: fortified villages
pākehā: non-Māori New Zealanders, (especially New Zealanders of European descent)
Papatuanuku: Earth Mother
poi: ball
powhiri: welcome, opening ceremony
puawaitanga: the principle of best outcomes
purotu: the principle of transparency
Ranganui: Sky Father
rangatiratanga: chieftainship or leadership
rohe: territory, area
runanga: committee of senior decision makers in an iwi or hapū
tangata whenua: people of the land, Māori people
taonga: valued resources, assets, prized possessions both material and non-material
te ao Māori: the Māori world
te ao marama: the world of light; present day world
Te Puni Kokiri: Ministry of Māori Development
te reo: Māori language
te taha hinengaro: mental
te taha tinana: physical and economic
te taha wairua: spiritual
Te Tai Rawhiti: East Coast
Te Tai Tokerau: Northland
Te Whaka Toi: Māori arts board of Creative New Zealand
tikanga: meaning, custom, obligations
tinana: body
tino rangatiratanga: self-determination
tohukataka: state of being a wise person
toi iho: Māori made
tuhono: principle of alignment
waiata: song
waiata-a-ringa: action songs
wairua: spirituality
wairuatanga: state of being spiritual
whakakotahi: to be united
whakapapa: genealogy, cultural identity
whakatauki: proverbs
whānau: extended family
whanaungatanga: relationship, kinship.
See also:
Last updated October 3, 2022
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