Te Reo Māori Glossary
About this glossary
Using te reo Māori in your organisation supports inclusion, strengthens relationships, and reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique identity. This resource introduces commonly used terms to help build confidence in everyday use.
hapū
Kinship group, clan, subtribe
hui
Literally a gathering or meeting. As used in this report, hui refers to a community meeting conducted according to tikanga Māori (Māori protocol)
iwi
Often translated as “tribe”. Iwi is a collection of hapū (clans) that are composed of whānau (defined below). The link between the three groups is genealogical
kai
Food; to eat
Kāinga Ora
A government agency that manages tenancy services, manages a portfolio of public/state houses, building new houses
Kāinga Tupu
A multi-agency homelessness strategy for the WBOP
Kairūruku
Co-ordinator
Kaitiakitanga
Guardianship, stewardship, trusteeship, trustee
Kaitohutohu Māori
Māori Engagement Advisor
Kaiwhakawhanake Māori
Māori Development Manager
kaupapa
Purpose, mission, or approach. Kaupapa Māori means an approach reflecting the Māori world view
kāwanatanga
The features and actions of governing
koha
Gift or donation
kōhanga reo
Literally “language nests” – pre-school Māori culture and language immersion programs
kōrero kanohi ki te kanohi
Conversing face to face
kuia
A Māori female elder or elderly woman
kura kaupapa Māori
Māori-medium schools
mana
Prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma
manaaki
Support, hospitality, kindness, generosity
manaakitanga
The process of showing respect, generosity and care for others. It has an overtone of hospitality towards those outside a group one identifies with. In its simplest definition (hospitality), all Māori groups or whānau will exercise manaakitanga at some time
mana motuhake
A political concept, emphasizing autonomy and self-government
mana whakahaere
Translated variously as the “power to manage”, “governance” or “authority”
mana whenua
The iwi or hapū who are recognized as deriving mana (authority/status) from their ancestral connection to a particular piece of land or stretch of coastline
marae
Literally “courtyard” – the open area in front of the wharenui, (meeting house) where formal greetings and discussions take place. Often also used to include the complex of buildings around the marae
mataawaka
Refers to the Māori population in one area that is connected to an iwi or hapū who holds mana whenua somewhere outside that area
mokupuna
Grandchild – child or grandchild of a son, daughter, nephew, niece, etc.
Ngā Tamatoa
“The Warriors” was a Māori activist group formed in the 1970’s to promote Māori rights and fight racial discrimination
pākehā
New Zealander of European descent; literally English, European or foreign
Pou Ārahi kaupapa Māori
Pou Ārahi provide cultural guidance and leadership from a Te Ao Māori lens to integrate culturally appropriate values, tikanga, policies and practices within an organisation and its service delivery and engagement with clients. Can also be known as Māori Cultural Advisor.
rangatahi
Younger generation, youth
rangatira
Chief, leader of Iwi, hapū, a person who has mana
rangatiratanga
Chieftain, chieftainess, master, mistress, boss, supervisor, employer, landlord, owner, proprietor. A contested term in the context of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It can refer to chieftainship or chiefly authority and leadership. Other interpretations include “sovereignty” and autonomy
rohe
Boundary, district, region, territory, area, border (of land)
rūnanga
A governing body associated with iwi
tamariki
Children
tangata whenua
Literally “the people of the land”
tāonga
That which is precious or treasured
taura here
Binding ropes, urban kinship group, domestic migrants, kinship link. Literally “the Māori world”
Te Ika a Māui
Literally “the fish of Māui” – the North Island of New Zealand
Te Hiku o Te Ika
The part of the Far North District that is north of the Hokianga.
te reo
The Māori language
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi. The treaty signed by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs at Waitangi on 6 February 1840. The Treaty is one of New Zealand’s founding documents and has English and Māori versions. The translations do not strictly align. 512 rangatira signed Te Tiriti and 37 signed the English version.
Te Waipounamu
The South Island.
tikanga
Literally “the things that are correct”. Sometimes translated as “protocol” or “customary practice”, tikanga is the customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context
tino rangatiratanga
Self-determination, self-governance
wāhi tapu
Sacred place, sacred site – a place subject to long-term ritual restrictions on access or use (eg, a burial ground or a battle site)
wānanga
Publicly owned tertiary institutions that provide education in a Māori cultural context
whakapapa
Genealogy, genealogical table, lineage, decent
whānau
Typically translated as “families”. Whānau may refer to nuclear or extended families
Whānau Ora
A government initiative emphasising the empowerment of whānau to become self-managing. More broadly, Whānau Ora is an approach to delivering social services based on a Māori concept of wellbeing, which aims to have various needs of a whānau met holistically.
whānaungtanga
A broad kinship concept that acknowledges interconnectedness between people and the environment, through whakapapa. It is from this interconnectedness that specific obligations of care arise. These duties are not just to direct kin but communities