| Ae |
|
Yes |
| Aotearoa |
|
New Zealand (This is the traditional
Maori name and means 'Land of the long white cloud') |
| Awa |
|
River |
| Aroha |
|
Love |
| Awhi |
|
To look after |
| Bro |
|
(Maori slang) [short
for] 'Brother' - used as a term of affection for
men and women alike, related or not! |
| Choice |
|
(Kiwi slang) Excellent! |
| Cuz |
|
(Kiwi slang) [short
for] 'Cousin' - used a term of affection for men
and women alike, related or not! |
| Haere
mai |
|
Come here |
| Haere
ra |
|
Go away |
| Haka |
|
A traditional war dance |
| Hangi |
|
Traditional way of cooking
food in the earth |
| Hapu |
|
Sub-tribe |
| Harakeke |
|
Flax (a native plant with
numerous uses including weaving mats, clothes, fibre,
ropes) |
| Haumiatiketike |
|
God of wild and uncultivated
foods (eg. Fernroot) |
| Hei
matau |
|
Fish hook |
| Hine
Nui Te Po |
|
The Goddess of Death |
| Hongi |
|
Traditional Maori way of greeting
and expressing affection - where two peoples noses
are pressed together - symbolically exchanging the
breath of life |
| Huka |
|
Snow |
| Ika |
|
Fish |
| Iwi |
|
Tribe |
| Ka
pai |
|
Good |
| Kai |
|
Food |
| Kai
Moana |
|
Food from the sea |
| Kaitiaki |
|
Guardian |
| Kao |
|
No |
| Kahore |
|
No |
| Kapa
Haka |
|
Maori performing arts (including
Haka, War Dances, Poi,
Waiata etc) |
| Karakia |
|
Prayer |
| Kauri |
|
A native tree (part of the
Podocarp species) |
| Kawakawa |
|
A native plant with many medicinal
uses |
| Kereru |
|
Native wood pigeon |
| Kete |
|
Woven bag |
| Kia
tere |
|
Be quick! |
| Kia
tupato |
|
Be careful! |
| Kina |
|
Sea urchin |
| Kiwi |
|
Flightless nocturnal native
bird |
| Koru |
|
A traditional design that
is taken from the fern frond |
| Kotiro |
|
Girl |
| Kowhaiwhai |
|
Traditional interlocking designs
often used to decorate the roof panels of Marae |
| Kumara |
|
Sweet potato |
| Kuri |
|
Dog |
| Manaia |
|
A spiritual guardian representing
earth, sea and sky |
| Manu |
|
Bird |
| Marae |
|
The meeting place for Maori
communities where people learn, discuss issues,
meet, sleep and eat together |
| Mate |
|
(Kiwi slang) Friend |
| Maoritanga |
|
Maori culture |
| Maui |
|
A Demi God and hero |
| Maunga |
|
Mountain |
| Mo
Ake Tonu |
|
Eternity |
| Moana |
|
Sea |
| Motu |
|
Island |
| Ngahere |
|
Forest |
| Nikau |
|
A native palm tree |
| Pakeha |
|
Not Maori (eg. European) |
| Papatuanuku |
|
Earth Mother |
| Piu
Piu |
|
A traditional skirt made of
harakeke - worn by men and
women |
| Piwakawaka |
|
Fantail - a small native bird |
| Po |
|
Night |
| Poi |
|
A ball traditionally made
of harakeke and raupo that is tied on the end of
a decorated string and swung from the hands of wahine
as they dance |
| Potiki |
|
The youngest in a family |
| Pukeko |
|
Native swamp hen |
| Ra |
|
Sun |
| Rahui |
|
A traditional Maori concept
of conservation |
| Ranginui |
|
Sky Father |
| Raupo |
|
Swamp plant |
| Rongomatane |
|
God of Cultivation and Peaceful
Arts |
| Ruaumoko |
|
God of Volcanoes |
| Stylee |
|
(Kiwi slang) Like
stylish, but cooler |
| Sweet
as |
|
(Kiwi slang) Everything
is real good - not a problem etc. |
| Takapu |
|
Gannet bird |
| Tama |
|
Boy |
| Tamariki |
|
Children |
| Tane |
|
Man |
| Tanemahuta |
|
God of the Forest (and also
often the name for giant Kauri) |
| Tangata |
|
People |
| Tangata
Whenua |
|
People of the land |
| Tangaroa |
|
God of the Sea |
| Taonga |
|
Treasures |
| Tapu |
|
Sacred |
| Tauira |
|
Apprentice or student |
| Tautoko |
|
Support |
| Tawhirimatea |
|
God of the Wind |
| Te
Ao Marama |
|
The world of light |
| Te
Tiriti o Waitangi |
|
The Treaty of Waitangi |
| Tii
kouka |
|
Cabbage tree |
| Tiki |
|
Traditional design representing
ancestors and the origin of mankind |
| Tino
pai |
|
Very good |
| Tipare |
|
Headband |
| Titiro |
|
Look |
| Tumatauenga |
|
God of War |
| Tumeke |
|
(Maori slang) Too
much / Too good for words |
| Wahi
Tapu |
|
Sacred ground |
| Wahine |
|
Woman |
| Wai |
|
Water |
| Waiata |
|
Song |
| Waka |
|
Canoe (now days also used
for other forms of transport eg. cars!) |
| Whakairo |
|
Weaving |
| Whakarongo |
|
Listen |
| Whanau |
|
Family |
| Whare |
|
House |
| Whenua |
|
The land or earth, and also
- afterbirth (this is an example of the close connection
that Maori feel between themselves and Papatuanuku) |
