| Ākonga Māori |
Student, learner, pupil. We use ākonga Māori to differentiate between ākonga who are Māori and those who are tauiwi |
| Ara |
Way, path, lane, passageway, track, course, route |
| Hapori |
Section of a kinship group, family, society, community |
| Hapū |
Kinship group, clan, tribe, subtribe. Hapū is a section of a large kinship group and the primary political unit in traditional Māori society. It consisted of a number of whānau sharing descent from a common ancestor. A number of related hapū usually shared adjacent territories forming a looser tribal federation (iwi) |
| Hauora |
Health, vigour |
| Hui |
Gathering, meeting |
| Iwi |
Extended kinship group, tribe, nation, people, nationality, race. Iwi often refers to a large group of people descended from a common ancestor and associated with a distinct territory |
| Kaiako |
Teacher, instructor. We use the term kaiako Māori to differentiate between kaiako who are Māori and those who are tauiwi |
| Kaimahi |
Worker, employee. Kaimahi Māori refers to a Māori worker or employee |
| Kanohi ki te kanohi |
Face to face, in person |
| Kaumātua |
Adult, elder, elderly man or woman. A person of status within the whānau |
| Kaupapa |
Topic, policy, matter for discussion, plan, subject |
| Kāwanatanga |
Government, dominion, rule, authority, governorship |
| Kete |
Basket, kit |
| Kōrero |
Speech, narrative, story, discussion, conversation |
| Mahi |
Work, job, trade (work) |
| Mahi tūturu |
Tūturu can mean permanent, real, actual, authentic or legitimate. When prefixed with ‘mahi’, it means legitimate, permanent, full-time and part-time mahi |
| Māmā |
Mother, mum |
| Mana |
Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma. Mana is a supernatural force in a person, place or object |
| Mana motuhake |
Separate identity, autonomy, self-government, self-determination, independence, sovereignty, authority. Mana through self-determination and control over one's own destiny |
| Manaakitanga |
Hospitality, kindness, generosity, support. The process of showing respect, generosity and care for others |
| Mana tuku iho |
A sense of identity and belonging |
| Mana whanake |
Sustainable prosperity |
| Māoritanga |
Māori culture, Māori practices and beliefs, Māoriness, Māori way of life |
| Mātauranga Māori |
Māori knowledge. The body of knowledge originating from Māori ancestors, including the Māori world view and perspectives, Māori creativity and cultural practices |
| Mauri |
Life principle, life force, vital essence, special nature, a material symbol of a life principle, source of emotions. The essential quality and vitality of a being or entity |
| Mokopuna |
Grandchildren, grandchild. Child or grandchild of a son, daughter, nephew, niece, etc and descendant |
| Motu |
Country, land, nation |
| Ōritetanga |
Equality, equal opportunity |
| Pēpē |
Baby |
| Pou |
Post, pillar |
| Rangatahi |
Younger generation, youth |
| Rohe |
Boundary, district, region, territory, area, border (of land) |
| Takatāpui Māori |
Takatāpui is a traditional Māori term meaning intimate companion of the same sex. It has been reclaimed to embrace all Māori who identify with diverse sexes, genders and sexualities |
| Tamariki |
Children |
| Tāmaki Makaurau |
Auckland |
| Tāne |
Men. Tāne Māori refers to Māori men |
| Tāngata whaikaha |
People with disabilities |
| Tāngata whenua |
Local people, hosts, indigenous people. People born of the whenua – the placenta – and of the land where the people's ancestors have lived and where their placenta are buried |
| Taonga |
Treasure, anything prized – applied to anything considered to be of value including socially or culturally valuable objects, resources, phenomenon, ideas and techniques |
| Tauiwi |
Foreigner, European, non-Māori, colonist |
| Te ao Māori |
Māori world |
| Te reo Māori |
Māori language |
| Tikanga Māori |
Correct procedure, custom, habit, lore, method, manner, rule, way, code, meaning, plan, practice, convention, protocol. The customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context |
| Tino rangatiratanga |
Self-determination, sovereignty, autonomy, self-government, domination, rule, control, power.
Tino rangatiratanga needs to be understood/defined, from a Crown perspective, in terms of the Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the differences between the Māori and English texts. This concept relates to hapū and iwi who were co-signatories of the Treaty with the Crown. This is a reasonable definition of tino rangatiratanga: “the unfettered chiefly powers [tino rangatiratanga] of the rangatira, the tribes and all the people of New Zealand over their lands, their dwelling-places and all of their valuables [taonga].” In contrast, the English version only guarantees Māori possession over their lands and estates. (See Distinguished Professor Dame Anne Salmond’s Brief of Evidence for the Waitangi Tribunal (Wai 1040, 17 April 2010) at 11 where she translates Article 2 of the Treaty.)
Rangatiratanga can be understood at individual and whānau levels as the ability to exercise one’s decision-making capacity in day-to-day activities (for example, in cultural, economic, environmental and social spheres), which can nevertheless overlap with collective activities of hapū and iwi |
| Wāhine |
Women. Wāhine Māori refers to Māori women |
| Wairua |
Spirit, soul. Spirit of a person that exists beyond death. It is the non-physical spirit, distinct from the body and the mauri. To some, the wairua resides in the heart or mind of someone, while others believe it is part of the whole person and is not located at any particular part of the body |
| Waiora |
Health, wellbeing |
| Wānanga |
Tertiary institution that caters for Māori learning needs |
| Whakaaro |
Thought, opinion, understanding, idea |
| Whakapapa |
Genealogy, genealogical table, lineage, descent |
| Whakawhanaungatanga |
Process of establishing relationships, relating well to others |
| Whānau |
Extended family, family group; familiar term of address to a number of people; the primary economic unit of traditional Māori society. In the modern context, the term is sometimes used to include friends who may not have any kinship ties to other members |
| Whanaungatanga |
Relationship, kinship, sense of family connection |
| Whenua |
Land |
