Te Reo is commonly used throughout New Zealand in a range of settings, from schools to business and in the media.
You will probably hear a lot of these words when you come out on our trips. But don't worry – we translate as we go!
| 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 |
| 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 Conifer 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 (native plant of the Cordyline species) |
| 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
– placenta (this is an example of the close connection
that Maori feel between themselves and Papatuanuku) |
