Aotearoa New Zealand
hapū sub-tribe, extended family group
hui conferences, meeting(s)
iwi tribe, tribal grouping made up of a number of related hapū or extended family groups with a common whakapapa (geneaology/bloodline) from an important tipuna (ancestor)
kāinga home, address, residence, village, habitation, habitat
kaitiaki guardian, caretaker
kaitiakitanga guardianship, the responsibilities passed down from the ancestors for tangata whenua (people of the land) to take care of the places, natural resources, mauri (life force), and other tāonga in their rohe (area).
kaumātua male elder(s)
kāwanatanga government, governance
kia ora greetings, hello, an acknowledgement, thanks
kōrero communicate, speak
mahinga kai places where food and other resources are traditionally gathered
mana authority, prestige, standing
mana whenua local Māori with ancestral ties to the land
manāki hospitality, hosting those living or visiting in tribal area/rohe
manākitanga a sacred obligation to care for all people within one’s rohe, including taura here (Māori with ancestral ties outside the area) and non-Māori
marae tribal meeting house(s) and buildings, including ceremonial courtyard
Maungawhau Mt Eden
mauri essential life force, the spiritual power and distinctiveness of each person and object
Pākehā of European descent
Papatūānuku the ancestral elemental Mother, the earth, the land
rangatira chief
rangatiratanga independence, self-determination, the rights and authority of iwi and hapū to make decisions and control resources
reo language
rohe tribal area, geographical territory customarily occupied by an iwi or hapū
rūnanga councils, boards, committee of senior decision makers of an iwi or hapū
Tāmaki-makau-rau Auckland
tangata man, human being
tangata whenua local indigenous people, people of the land, Māori people
tāonga precious assets, belongings, valued resources, prized possessions both material and non-material
taumata high-level forum for decision making
taumata rūnanga local group/meeting
taura here Māori from another area, without ancestral ties to the region
te reo Māori Māori language
Te Tiriti ō Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi
tikanga Māori Māori cultural protocol, customs, customary correct ways of doing things, traditions
tino rangatiratanga independence, the right to control or self-determination
tipuna ancestor
urupā burial ground, cemetery
wāhi tapu sacred place, location with spiritual meaning
wāhine women
wai water
Waiheke cascading waters
wairua spirit
Waitematā sparkling waters
waka traditional Māori canoe
whakapapa genealogy, heredity, bloodline
whānau family, blood relatives
whenua land
| Home | Help | Disclaimer & Copyright | Contact us | newzealand.govt.nz |