ao

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qalejaw (compare Tagalog araw).


ao

From Proto-Polynesian *qao, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?] (compare Hawaiian ao).


ate

From Proto-Polynesian *qate, from Proto-Oceanic *qate (compare with Fijian yate), from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *qatay, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *qatay, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qatay (compare with Malay hati and Tagalog atay), from Proto-Austronesian *qaCay. Compare with Malay hati for similar connections of this organ with emotions.


kiwi

desctree

→ English: kiwi
→ Catalan: kiwi
→ Dutch: kiwi
→ French: kiwi
→ German: Kiwi
→ Korean: 키위 (kiwi)
→ Polish: kiwi
→ Portuguese: quivi

From Proto-Polynesian *kiu, from Proto-Oceanic *kiuk, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kiuk (“cheep, peep”), probably onomatopoeic for the bird's cry.


one

From Proto-Polynesian *qone, from Proto-Austronesian *qənay.


kawa

From Proto-Polynesian *kawa (cognates include Hawaiian ʻawa, Tongan kava and Samoan ʻava) from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ (“potent root”) metathesis of Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀ (“root”), thus doublet of aka. Sense of plant lost with species introduced to Aotearoa dying out due to its cold climate. Sense of "marae protocol" seems to be a modern extension.

a ceremony to remove tapu from a new house or canoe

karakia (“ritual chants”) and customs for the opening of new houses, canoes and other events

marae protocol - customs of the marae and wharenui, particularly those related to formal activities such as pōhiri, speeches and mihimihi

(obsolete) kava, plant brought by ancestors from the South Pacific, Piper methysticum.


pata

From Proto-Polynesian *pata (compare with Tahitian pata (“to flick, to flip”) and tōpata (“droplet, to drip”), Hawaiian paka (“to strike of raindrops, to patter”)) from Proto-Oceanic *bata.


mana

→ English: mana

From Proto-Polynesian *mana, from Proto-Oceanic *mana.

In 1979 a gathering of elders at the Waananga kaumatua affirmed te reo Maori “Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Maori” the language is the life principle of Maori mana.

2006, Joanne Barker, Sovereignty Matters, page 208:


kopa

floor space and corner on the left on entering a wharenui – normally the place where the local people of the marae sit or sleep


kopa

wallet, satchel (with a flap lid), sandal


au

From Proto-Polynesian *qau, from Proto-Oceanic *qaʀus, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaʀus (“current, flow”).


au

From Proto-Polynesian *qahu, from Proto-Oceanic *qasu (“gall; gall bladder”).


au

From Proto-Polynesian *qahu, from Proto-Oceanic *qasu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qasu (“smoke; fume; steam”).


ika

From Proto-Polynesian *ika, from Proto-Oceanic *ikan, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *ikan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hikan, from Proto-Austronesian *Sikan (compare Malay ikan).

Kātahi anō te ika ka kai ki tana matau.

Then the fish began to bite at his hook.

Ka kī ngā pihapiha o te ika rā i te onepū, ka mate.

When the blowholes of that whale were full of sand, it died.

fish, marine animal, aquatic animal - any creature that swims in fresh or salt water including marine mammals such as whales


ika

cluster, band, troop, group, company, heap


motu

From Proto-Polynesian *motu (compare with Hawaiian moku) from Proto-Oceanic *motus (“broken off, detached”) (compare with Fijian yamotu), possibly from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ma-utus.

island, country, land, nation, clump of trees, ship; anything separated or isolated


mate

From Proto-Polynesian *mate, from Proto-Oceanic *mate, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(m-)atay, from Proto-Austronesian *(m-)aCay.


tau

From Proto-Polynesian *taqu (compare Hawaiian kau), from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqun (compare Malay tahun, Tagalog taón).

year (time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution of the Sun)

year (time it takes for any planetary body to make one revolution around another body)

year (a period between set dates that mark a year)

year (scheduled part of a calendar year spent in a specific activity)

year (level or grade at school or college)


tau

From Proto-Polynesian *tau, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqu, from Proto-Austronesian *Caqu (compare Malay tahu).


pare

From Proto-Oceanic *pale₂ (cognate with Hawaiian pale (“headdress, cover”), Samoan pale and Tongan pale (both “wreath”))


pare

From Proto-Oceanic *pale₁ (cognate with Hawaiian pale)


tuna

From Proto-Polynesian *tuna, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuna, from Proto-Austronesian *tuNa (“freshwater eel”).

eel of various species, including longfin eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii) and shortfin eels (Anguilla australis)


papa

From Proto-Polynesian *papa, from Proto-Oceanic *papan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *papan (compare with Malay papan or Hawaiian papa).


manu

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *manu, from Proto-Oceanic *manu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *manuk, from Proto-Austronesian *manuk.

(figuratively) a person held in high esteem


raro

From Proto-Polynesian *lalo (compare with Hawaiian lalo), from Proto-Oceanic *ralom, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *daləm (compare with Malay dalam), from Proto-Austronesian *daləm.

Ka tae tō wairua ki raro.


kura

From Proto-Oceanic *gurat noni (Morinda citrifolia), referring to use of its roots that yield a red dye. Cognate with Fijian kura.


kura

school, an educational institution providing primary and secondary education.


ua

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian, from Proto-Polynesian, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *uʀat, from Proto-Austronesian.


hoe

From Proto-Polynesian *fohe, from Proto-Central Pacific *voce, from Proto-Oceanic *pose, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *boʀse, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəʀsay (“canoe paddle”).


kea

→ English: kea

→ French: kéa

→ Finnish: kea

→ German: Kea

→ Italian: kea

→ Russian: ке́а (kéa)

From Proto-Polynesian *kea (“hawksbill turtle”).

Nestor notabilis
Nestor notabilis#Translingual


puka

From Proto-Polynesian *puka (“any littoral Pisonia, Hernandia spp.”) – compare with Tongan puka and Samoan puʻa vai (“Pisonia grandis”), Samoan puʻa (“ibid., Hernandia nymphaeifolia”). Modern sense of introduced cabbage from large size of its leaves.


wai

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Polynesian *wai, from Proto-Oceanic *waiʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *waiʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wahiʀ (compare with Malay air).


kai

→ English: kai

From Proto-Polynesian *kai, from Proto-Oceanic *kani, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən (compare with Malay makan), from Proto-Austronesian *kaən (compare with Tagalog kain).


puke

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Austronesian (compare Fijian buke, Malay bukit).


tio

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (compare Hawaiian kio, Malay tiram).


tia

From Proto-Polynesian *tia, from Proto-Oceanic *tian, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tian (compare with Malay tian), from Proto-Austronesian *tiaN.


toke

From Proto-Polynesian *toke (compare with hōtoke, Hawaiian koʻekoʻe, Tahitian toʻetoʻe).


moa

→ English: moa


kite

From Proto-Polynesian *kite (compare with Hawaiian ʻike, Tahitian ʻite) from Proto-Oceanic *kita-i suffixed from *kita from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kita (“to see”) (compare with Tagalog kita).


eke

From Proto-Polynesian *heke (compare with Tongan heka; Tahitian eʻe; South Marquesan eʻe; North Marquesan eke; Hawaiian eʻe) from Proto-Oceanic *sake (compare with Fijian cake (“up”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sakay (“to ride on something”) (compare with Ilocano sakáy (“to ride, to mound”) and Tagalog sakáy (“passenger, load”)). Sense of "surfing" from overlap with heke. Doublet of ekeeke.


whare

→ English: whare

From Proto-Polynesian *fale, from Proto-Central-Eastern Oceanic *vale, from Proto-Oceanic *pale, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *balay.

Kua tūtakina te whare none i Tūranga nei, kua hokona te whare me te whenua, ko ngā none kua hoki anō ki te kākahu o te ao.

The nunnery here in Gisborne has closed and the land and building have been sold, the nuns have returned to worldly garments

E te whare nei, titiro tāua ki te tangata nei.

People of this house, let us look at this man.


hue

From Proto-Polynesian *fue (compare with Hawaiian hue)

Lagenaria siceraria
Lagenaria siceraria#Translingual

any container using the shell of this fruit, calabash


ana

From Proto-Polynesian *qana. Cognate to Samoan ana.


maki

From Proto-Polynesian *masaki, from Proto-Oceanic *masakit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sakit.

sore (injured, infected, inflamed, or diseased patch of skin)


pipi

The edible saltwater clam Paphies australis, of the family Mesodesmatidae, endemic to New Zealand.


rahi

importance, (important person, important people)


tai

From Proto-Polynesian *tai, from Proto-Oceanic *tasik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tasik (compare with Malay tasik).


aka

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *aka, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *aka, from Proto-Polynesian *aka (compare with Hawaiian aʻa), from Proto-Oceanic *(w)akaʀ, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *(w)akaʀ, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *(w)akaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(w)akaʀ (compare with Malay akar).


maka

Nā, ka mea kia tukua ngā aho o ngā tukana, ka motokia tōna ihu e Māui; taratīa ana te toto. Ka rere, ka taratī te karukaru, ka pōtaea ki runga ki tōna maka hei mounu.
Now, when his older brothers let out their lines, Māui punched his nose and blood spurted out. The blood flowed, spurting out and he smeared it on his his fish-hook as bait.


maka

He maka e 2 kapa, e 4 kapa.
Mugs, twopence or four pence.


waka

→ English: waka


hauwai

head

hauwai (plural (but rare or inexistent) hauwai)


ora

From Proto-Polynesian *ola, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *wada (“to exist”). Cognate with Malay ada (“to have, to exist, to be”).


tiki

→ English: tiki

⇒ tiki bar

⇒ tiki culture

⇒ tiki restaurant

⇒ tiki resort

⇒ tiki torch

From Proto-Polynesian *tiki (compare with Tahitian tiʻi and Hawaiian kiʻi).


mina

From Proto-Polynesian *mina, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *minat (compare with Malay minat).


roto

From Proto-Polynesian *loto (Compare Hawaiian loko, Tahitian roto, Tongan loto).


haka

→ English: haka

→ Norwegian Nynorsk: haka

→ Czech: haka

From Proto-Polynesian *saka, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sakaŋ. Word is cognate with Hawaiian haʻa (“dance”), Mangarevan ʻaka (“to perform a traditional dance; a usually warlike dance accompanied by a chant”), Rarotongan ʻaka (“dance”), Samoan saʻa (“dance”), Tokelauan haka (“dance”), Tongan haka (“hand action made while singing”).


rua

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian, from Proto-Polynesian, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (compare Malay lubang).


ama

From Proto-Polynesian *hama. Cognates include Tongan hama and Hawaiian ama.


tuku

From Proto-Polynesian *tuku (“to let go, to release”) (compare with Tokelauan tuku, Samoan tuʻu, Tahitian tuʻu and Hawaiian kuʻu).


tangi

From Proto-Polynesian *taŋi, from Proto-Oceanic *taŋis, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taŋis (compare with Malay tangis), from Proto-Austronesian *Caŋis.

Whakarongo mai ki te tangi o nga pū i runga i te taumata a Pukehinahina

2018, “Rū Ana Te Whenua”, performed by Alien Weaponry:

Listen to the sound of the guns on the hilltop of Pukehinahina


māori

From Proto-Polynesian *ma(a)qoli (“true, genuine, real”). Compare Hawaiian maoli.

aboriginal inhabitant, indigenous person, native (especially of the Pacific islands)


tonga

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *toŋa (“south wind”), possibly from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *təŋaq (“centre”).
No words for the cardinal directions can be unambiguously reconstructed for Proto-Polynesian, as there would be little use for them on the small Polynesian islands. However, on the much larger North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu) of New Zealand, the usefulness of such terminology led the Māori to adopt this word for "south".

inh+

Australian National University
Bruce Biggs
South Island


paki

From Proto-Polynesian *paki₁ (“to clap, to slap, to hit, to beat”) (compare with Hawaiian paʻi, Tahitian paʻipaʻi and pāʻi plus Samoan paʻipaʻi), from Proto-Oceanic *baki from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pakpak₁ (“to clap, to flap”) (compare with Malay papak (“clapper”), Tagalog pakpák (“wing”) and palakpák (“applause”) plus Cebuano pakpák (“applause”)). Sense of printing extended from Maori beating of aute fabric from paper mulberry, compare with Hawaiian paʻi on similar analogue from kapa production using the same plant. Doublet of papaki (“to slap, to spank”) and pā (“to touch, to strike”).


mata

From Proto-Polynesian *mata (cognate with Hawaiian maka and Tahitian mata), Proto-Oceanic *mata, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *mata (cognate with Malay mata), from Proto-Austronesian *maCa.


reka

From Proto-Polynesian *leka (compare Hawaiian leʻa, Tahitian ʻārearea, Tongan neka and nekaneka).


tangata māori

human being (as opposed to supernatural being)


tāngata

Kahore a te Ture titiro kanohi t[ā]ngata. / The Law is no respecter of persons.


whenua

From Proto-Polynesian *fenua (cognate with Hawaiian henua and Tahitian fenua), from Proto-Central Pacific *vanua, from Proto-Oceanic *panua, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *banua (compare with Malay benua).


tangata

From Proto-Polynesian *taŋata from Proto-Oceanic *tamʷata, cognate with Hawaiian kanaka, Tahitian taʻata and Samoan tagata.

Ta ratou, ma te tangata mate i te mahi he a tetahi, ma nga whanaung ranei o te tangata i patua, ma ratou tonu e whakawa te tangata hara, ma ratou tonu e whiu, e whakamate ranei, me he mea ka tika ki to ratou na whakaaro kia mate ia.

1858, Francis Dart Fenton, The Laws of England, Compiled and translated into the Māori language:

With them, it is usual for the man who has been injured, or for the relations of a man slain, not only to judge, but to punish the offender, and even, if they think it just that he should die, to kill him


ahi

From Proto-Polynesian *afi, from Proto-Oceanic *api, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *api, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apuy, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hapuy (compare with Malay api), from Proto-Austronesian *Sapuy.


reo

From Proto-Polynesian *leo, from Proto-Oceanic *leqo, doublet of Proto-Oceanic *liqo, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *liqə, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *liqəʀ, from Proto-Austronesian *liqəʀ (“neck”).


kōwhai

Cognate with Hawaiian 'ōhai (“Sesbania tomentosa”), Tahitian ofai (“Sesbania grandiflora”) and South Marquesan kohai (“Caesalpinia pulcherrima”) from Proto-Polynesian *kōfai.

cog

Any of several small woody legume trees in the genus Sophora native to New Zealand that have yellow flowers. The national flower of New Zealand.


utu

From Proto-Polynesian, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *utuŋ (compare Hawaiian uku, Malay untung).


puku

From Proto-Polynesian *puku₁ (compare with Hawaiian puʻu and Tahitian puʻu), from Proto-Oceanic *buku from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bukuh (compare with Malay buku (“node, lump, loaf”)). Sense of stomach displaced manawa. Also doublet of kupu, see there for more details.


ura

From Proto-Polynesian *qura, from Proto-Oceanic *quraŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qudaŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *qudaŋ.


hau

a present given in return for another gift


hui

From Proto-Polynesian from Proto-Oceanic *pui₁ (“bunch of fruit”) (compare with Hawaiian hui (“troupe, association, society, club”) and Tahitian hui (“group”) plus Hawaiian huihui (“cluster, collection, bunch”) and Tahitian huihui (“collection”)). Doublet of huihui.

gathering, meeting, assembly, seminar, conference


aro

From Proto-Polynesian *qaro, from Proto-Oceanic *qarop, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qadəp (“front, facing part”).

inh

Kua maringi i a koe ki runga i to aro.

Ko te paenga e tūtaki ai ētahi hau whakapipi e rua, ka kīia he aro.

The boundary where two air masses meet is called a front.


unu

From Proto-Polynesian *unu, from Proto-Oceanic *unus, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hunus, from Proto-Austronesian *SuNus (“withdraw, pull out, extract”).


ara

From Proto-Polynesian *sala, from Proto-Oceanic *salan, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *zalan, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *zalan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zalan (compare with Malay jalan), from Proto-Austronesian *zalan (compare with Tagalog daan).

path (a trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians)

path (a method or direction of proceeding)

street (paved part of road in a village or a town)

track (path or course laid out for a race or exercise)


puta

From Proto-Polynesian *puta. Compare Hawaiian puka.


horo

From Proto-Polynesian *solo₃ (compare with Hawaiian holo, Tahitian horo, Samoan solo) from Proto-Polynesian *ŋaasolo (“to move swiftly forward”).


tiri

From Proto-Polynesian *tili (“hand net”) (compare with Samoan tili (“to cast a net, to net”), Hawaiian kili (“to rain gently, to drizzle”), Tahitian tiri, Tongan sili (“to net”))


marama

Ultimately from Proto-Oceanic *ramaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *damaʀ (“tree resin”) (compare with Malay damar (“resin”)), either:
# via Proto-Polynesian *ma-ramaa (“to shine”) (compare with Hawaiian malama, Tahitian marama), from Proto-Oceanic *ma-ramaʀ (“to shine”),
# via Proto-Polynesian *rama, from Proto-Oceanic *rama (compare with Fijian rama and rarama “light”)
Doublet of mārama, rama, and mā.


ato

From Proto-Polynesian *qato (compare with Tahitian ato, Hawaiian ako), from Proto-Oceanic *qatop, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qatəp (compare with Malay atap, Tagalog atip).


awa

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *awa (“channel, opening in a reef”).
Other Polynesian languages generally retain the Proto-Polynesian meaning (e.g. Hawaiian awa); the word was adapted to mean "river" in Māori because the large rivers of New Zealand were more similar to channels than to the small streams (Proto-Polynesian *waitafe) the Māori knew before settling New Zealand.

inh+

Australian National University
Bruce Biggs


ihu

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian, from Proto-Oceanic *icu (compare Fijian ucu and ucuna, Samoan isu), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ijuŋ (compare Tagalog ilong, Malay hidung), *ujuŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *mujiŋ.


iro

head

iro (used in a reduplicated form as iroiro)

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qulej, (compare Indonesian ulat (“caterpillar”), Malay ulat (“worm, maggot”), Fijian ulo, Chamorro ulo').


uta

From Proto-Polynesian *quta (compare with Hawaiian uka and Tongan ʻuta), from Proto-Oceanic *qutan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qutan (compare with Malay hutan (“jungle, forest”) and Iban utan (“ibid.”)), from Proto-Austronesian *quCaN (“scrubland, bush”).

inh

interior (the inside regions of a country or island)


uta

From Proto-Polynesian *uta, from Proto-Oceanic *(ʀ)ucan (“load, cargo, freight”).

uta mai

uta atu


ā

Likely cognate with Hawaiian ā (“jaw; cheekbone”).


tō

From Proto-Polynesian *to (compare with Hawaiian kō and Tongan tō), from Proto-Oceanic *topu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *təbuh (compare with Malay tebu), from Proto-Austronesian *təbuS. Sense of stem displaced the original plant meaning as sugarcane did not survive the cold New Zealand climate.


tuatara

Said to be from tua (“on the back”) + tara (“spike”).


mauri

→ English: mauri

From Proto-Polynesian *maquri, from Proto-Oceanic *maqurip, from *qurip, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qudip, from Proto-Austronesian *qudip (“life, alive”).

In 1979 a gathering of elder at the Waananga kaumatua affirmed te reo Maori “Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Maori” the language is the life principle of Maori mana.

life principle; metaphorical soul; source of life


rama

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (compare Indonesian damar).


taro

→ English: taro

Tok Pisin: taro

→ French: taro

→ German: Taro

From Proto-Polynesian *talo, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taləs (compare with Malay talas and Javanese tales).


ata

From Proto-Polynesian *ata. Cognates include Hawaiian aka, Samoan ata, and Tokelauan ata.


tua

From Proto-Polynesian *tuqa (compare with Samoan tua (“beyond, outside”), Tahitian tua (“ridge, crest”), Tongan tuʻa and Hawaiian kua).


marae

→ English: marae

From Proto-Oceanic *malaqe (“cleared space”). Cognate with Rapa Nui marae, Tahitian marae, Samoan malae, Tongan malaʻe.

The courtyard of a wharenui or meeting-house and the buildings around it.


pari

From Proto-Polynesian *pali (“cliff”) (compare with Hawaiian pali, Tahitian pari).


moto

From Proto-Polynesian *moto (compare with Hawaiian moko, Tahitian moto, Tongan moto and momoto)


toko

From Proto-Polynesian *toko (compare with Samoan toʻo, Hawaiian koʻo) from Proto-Oceanic *tokon, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *təkən (“bamboo punting pole, to press downward”) (compare with Malay tekan, Tagalog tikin).


uru

From Proto-Polynesian *qulu, from Proto-Oceanic *qulu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qulu, from Proto-Austronesian *quluh (“head”).

Ko wai te uru o tēnei ope?


uru

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *uru (“southwesterly wind”); perhaps originally a semantic extension of Etymology 1.
No words for the cardinal directions can be unambiguously reconstructed for Proto-Polynesian, as there would be little use for them on the small Polynesian islands. However, on the much larger North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu) of New Zealand, the usefulness of such terminology led the Māori to adopt this word for "west".


pākehā

English: Pakeha

Likely shortened from pakepakehā, which is of unknown origin. The Te Aka Māori dictionary entry cites Mohi Tūrei for the claim that the term is originally from a chant that European sailors sang when raising the anchor.

Ka pīrangi au te kikokiko pākehā

2021, “Titokowaru”, performed by Alien Weaponry:


kurī

From Proto-Polynesian *kuli (compare with Samoan ulī, Tongan kulī, Tahitian ʻurī and ʻūrī, Rarotongan kurī, Tuamotuan kurio and kuri, Hawaiian ʻīlio) from Proto-Oceanic *kuli (compare with Fijian koli). Sense of horse from semantic extension, Elsdon Best famously recorded a oral retelling of Tūhoe elder Te Maitaranui first seeing "man-carrying dogs" (kurī waha tangata) whilst visiting the Bay of Islands circa 1820; see also connection between Hawaiian ʻīlio and lio (“horse”) as well as in North American languages like between Cree ᒥᐢᑕᑎᒼ (mistatim, “horse”) and ᐊᑎᒼ (atim, “dog”).


iwi

From Proto-Polynesian *hui (cognate with Samoan ivi and Tahitian ivi), from Proto-Oceanic *suʀi/ruʀi (“thorn, splinter, fish bone”), from Proto-Austronesian *duʀi (“thorn”).

Iwi Poa

Afrikaners, Boers - South Africans of Dutch descent

patu iwi

bone weapon, weapon for destroying people; genocide

tikanga ā-iwi

cultural practice, social science, tribal custom

extended kinship group, tribe, nation, people, nationality, race (often refers to a large group of people descended from a common ancestor and associated with a distinct territory)


mihi

→ English: mihi


marino

From Proto-Polynesian *malino. Cognate with Hawaiian malino.


hara

From Proto-Polynesian *sala (cognate with Hawaiian hala), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *salaq (compare with Malay salah).

crime, offence, transgression, wrongdoing


tū

From Proto-Polynesian *tuqur (cognate with Hawaiian kū and Tongan tuʻu), from Proto-Oceanic *tuqu (cognate with Fijian tū), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuquD.


kuru

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kuluʀ. Cognates include Hawaiian ʻulu, Fijian kulu, Malay kulur.

Kīhai te kuru, te niu me te panana i tipu ki Aotearoa nei – he tipu ēnei i mauria haere e ngā tīpuna Māori i ō rātou torotoronga i Te Moananui-a-Kiwa.
Breadfruit, coconut palms and bananas did not grow in New Zealand – these were plants Māori ancestors carried throughout the Pacific in their explorations.


kuru

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *kulu (“to strike”).


tapu

→ English: tapu

From Proto-Polynesian *tapu, from Proto-Oceanic *tabu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *tambu. Cognate with Hawaiian kapu.

taboo, restriction (as a spiritual or supernatural condition)


rae

From Proto-Polynesian *laʻe, from Proto-Oceanic *raqe, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *daqih, from Proto-Austronesian *daqiS.

(anatomy) forehead (part of face above eyebrows)


rae

From Proto-Polynesian, from Proto-Oceanic *raya, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *daya, from Proto-Austronesian *daya.


ringa

head

ringa (usually reduplicated as ringaringa)

From Proto-Oceanic *linga (compare Fijian liga).


hanga

the manner in which something is made or built

thing; object which has been made; product


wahine

→ English: wahine (with Hawaiian wahine)


pai

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bait (compare Malay baik, Tagalog bait).


uhi

From Proto-Polynesian *qufi (compare with Hawaiian uhi, Samoan ufi), from Proto-Oceanic *qupi (compare with Fijian uvi), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qubi (compare with Malay ubi, Tagalog ube). Doublet of uwhi.


uhi

a chisel-like tool used to puncture Maori tattoos (moko)


kiri

From Proto-Polynesian *kili (compare with Hawaiian ʻili), from Proto-Oceanic *kulit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kulit (compare with Malay kulit), from Proto-Austronesian *kuliC (“rind”).


kino

From Proto-Polynesian (compare Hawaiian ʻino).


turi

From Proto-Polynesian *turi, from Proto-Oceanic *tur (compare with Fijian duru), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuhud (compare with Malay tuhut and lutut, Tagalog tuhod), from Proto-Austronesian *tuduS.


aho

From Proto-Polynesian *afo, from Proto-Oceanic *apon, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hapən.


toa

From Proto-Polynesian *toqa (compare Hawaiian koa).


niu

From Proto-Polynesian *niu, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *niuʀ (compare with Tagalog niyog, Malay nyiur).


moe

From Proto-Polynesian *mohe (compare Tongan mohe, Hawaiian moe) from Proto-Oceanic (compare Fijian moce).


hina

From Proto-Polynesian *sina (compare with Hawaiian hina and Samoan sina), from Proto-Oceanic *sinaʀ (compare with Fijian cina (“to illuminate”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sinaʀ (compare with Malay sinar, Tagalog sinag), from Proto-Austronesian *siNaʀ.


moko

From Proto-Polynesian *moko (compare with Hawaiian moʻo) from Proto-Oceanic *mogko (compare with Fijian moko)


matua

From Proto-Polynesian *matuqa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(ma-)tuqah, from Proto-Austronesian *(ma-)tuqaS.


namu

From Proto-Polynesian *namu, from Proto-Central Pacific *ñamu, from Proto-Oceanic *ñamuk, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ñamuk.


rangi

From Proto-Polynesian *laŋi (compare with Hawaiian lani, Samoan lagi), from Proto-Oceanic *laŋit, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *laŋit (compare with Malay langit, Malagasy lanitra), from Proto-Austronesian *laŋiC (“sky”).


atua

From Proto-Polynesian *qatua (compare Hawaiian akua, Samoan atua, Tahitian atua, Tuvaluan atua), from Proto-Oceanic *qatuan (compare Gilbertese atua), from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *qatuan, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *qatuan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qatuan (compare Malay tuhan).


kutu

From Proto-Polynesian *kutu (compare with Hawaiian ʻuku, Tahitian ʻutu, Samoan ʻutu), from Proto-Oceanic *kutu (compare with Fijian kutu), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kutu (compare with Malay kutu, Tagalog kuto), from Proto-Austronesian *kuCu.


tina

Borrowed from English dinner (“midday meal”).


whero

Derived from Proto-Polynesian *felo (“yellow, tawny”) (compare with Hawaiian helo, Tongan felo and felofelo)


rango

From Proto-Polynesian *laŋo (compare with Hawaiian nalo) from Proto-Oceanic *laŋo (compare with Samoan lago), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *laŋaw (compare with Malay langau (“horsefly”)), from Proto-Austronesian *laŋaw.


whatu

From Proto-Polynesian *fatu, from Proto-Oceanic *patu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *batu (“stone”).

Ko te whatu i te pou tuarongo te wāhi tapu, ko te Kura a Tangaroa, he kōwhatu āhua pūwhero nei, he kōwhatu nō te kei o 'Kurahaupō'.
The stone deposited at the rear post of the house marked the tapu spot and it was the Kura a Tangaroa. It was a reddish stone, being a stone belonging to the stern of 'Kurahaupō'.

Nō te 10 o ngā rā o te marama nei i te rua o ngā hāora o te awatea, ka ua tētahi ua, 10 meneti i ua ai. Kātahi ka rere he whatu.

On the 10th of this month at 2 pm, it rained for 10 minutes. Then some hail fell.

Ina rā, te pūhutihuti me te mā o ngā makawe, te kikorangi o ngā whatu, te tāroaroa o te hanga, te paipa i te waha, he pāhau te kanohi, me tana kāmeta mau haere tonu e pūhia ana e te hau kaha o Pōneke.

Tall, bearded, with a shock of white hair and blue eyes, pipe in mouth, ever-present scarf flicking about in Wellington's stiffer breezes, he was instantly recognisable.


ariki

English: ariki

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *qariki.

paramount chief of a tribe, the most senior by descent of the rangatira (chiefs) of the tribe

first-born male or female in a family of high rank


rongo

From Proto-Polynesian *roŋo, from Proto-Central Pacific *roŋo, from Proto-Oceanic *roŋoʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dəŋəʀ, from Proto-Austronesian *dəŋəʀ.


huru

From Proto-Polynesian, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bulu; compare Malay bulu.


wheke

From Proto-Polynesian *feke. Cognate with Hawaiian heʻe, Rapa Nui hehe, Samoan fe'e, Tongan feke.


whata

From Proto-Polynesian *fata, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pataʀ.


riha

From Proto-Oceanic *lisa, Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lisehaq, from Proto-Austronesian *liseqeS (compare Ilocano lisa, Fijian lise, Hawaiian liha).


puha

the sow thistle, also called rareke, or raraki


pounamu

→ English: pounamu

→ Hawaiian: pounamu


kohu

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (compare Fijian kabu, Hawaiian ʻohu, Indonesian kabut).


aroha

→ English: aroha

From Proto-Polynesian *qarofa from Proto-Oceanic *qalopan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaləpan, from Proto-Austronesian *qaləpan, from *qaləp (“to beckon, wave”). Cognate with Hawaiian aloha.


peka

head

peka (used in a reduplicated form as pekapeka)

From Proto-Polynesian *peka from Proto-Oceanic, variously reconstructed as *bʷeka, *beŋka or *pʷeka (compare with Hawaiian peʻa, Samoan pe'a, Fijian beka).


haku

yellowtail amberjack
yellowtail amberjack#English

Seriola lalandi
Seriola lalandi#Translingual


rau

From Proto-Polynesian *rau, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dahun (“leaf”) (compare Malay daun).


raki

From Proto-Oceanic *laki (“westerly wind”) (cognate with Fijian draki "weather" and Hawaiian laʻi "stillness, calm, peace"); sense of "dry" perhaps originally a semantic extension from the weather conditions brought by the wind surrounding New Zealand.
No words for the cardinal directions can be unambiguously reconstructed for Proto-Polynesian, as there would be little use for them on the small Polynesian islands. However, on the much larger North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu) of New Zealand, the usefulness of such terminology led the Māori to adopt this word for "north".


tari

From Proto-Oceanic *tali, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *talih, from Proto-Austronesian *CaliS. Compare Paiwan calis, Kulon-Pazeh saris, Malay tali, Ilocano tali, Chamorro tali, Ma'anyan tadi, Malagasy tady, Tetum tali, Yapese tael, Pohnpeian sahl, Fijian dali.


tari

From Proto-Oceanic *sariŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zariŋ.


tahi

From Proto-Polynesian *tasi, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian [Term?], from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *isa, *əsa, from Proto-Austronesian *isa, *əsa, *asa.


honu

From Proto-Polynesian *fonu, from Proto-Oceanic *poñu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *pəñu, from Proto-Austronesian *pəñu.

Kitea ai te honu i te whānuitanga atu o Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.

The turtle is found throughout the Pacific Ocean.


huhu

→ English: huhu

From Proto-Polynesian *fufu, from Proto-Oceanic *pupuk, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *bubuk, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bukbuk (“weevil”).

huhu grub, the larval form of Prionoplus reticularis (a longhorn beetle species of the Cerambycidae family which is the largest endemic beetle found in New Zealand)


puna

From Proto-Polynesian *puna (“spring of water”), from Proto-Oceanic *puna (“spring of water”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *puna (“source; origin”), from Proto-Austronesian *puna (“source; origin”). Cognate to Hawaiian puna, Samoan puna.


toma

I whakatakotoria tahitia a Mananui rāua ko Nohopapa ki te toma i Pūkawa.
Mananui and Nohopapa were laid together in the vault at Pūkawa.


hana

From Proto-Polynesian *fana, from Proto-Oceanic *panas, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *panas.


tui

From Proto-Polynesian *tui (“to thread on string”) (compare with Hawaiian kui) from Proto-Oceanic *tuRi₁ from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuhuR (“to string together”) (compare with Tagalog tuhog).


koura

Borrowing of English gold, with sounds changed to conform to Māori phonetics.

koura (freshwater crayfish of the genus Paranephrops, endemic to New Zealand)


morehu

Followers of the Ratana Church, remnants of tribes, survivors.


renga

From Proto-Polynesian *renga from Proto-Oceanic *renga. Cognate with Hawaiian lena, Tahitian reʻa, Samoan lega and Tongan enga all meaning "turmeric". Sense of colour comes from hue produced by the plant (compare with Hawaiian lenalena), eventually displacing the original meaning when the plant did not survive the cold New Zealand climate.


puru

From Proto-Oceanic *pulu (“coconut husk”) (compare with Fijian bulu and Hawaiian pulu "coconut husk") from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bulut. Sense of "plug" is a semantic extension from the lack of coconuts found naturally in New Zealand.


kiore

From Proto-Polynesian *kiole. Cognate with Hawaiian ʻiole.


kawhi

From English coffee, from Dutch koffie (“coffee”), from Italian caffè (“coffee”), from Ottoman Turkish قهوه (kahve, “coffee”), from Arabic قَهْوَة (qahwa, “coffee, a brew”).


mangō

→ English: mako (from Southern dialect makō)


pūpū

Either from Proto-Polynesian *puu-puu (compare with Samoan pupu and Hawaiian pūpū) from Proto-Oceanic *buburu; or reduplication of pū from Proto-Polynesian *puu (“clump”).


pūpū

From Proto-Polynesian *puupuu related to Proto-Polynesian *puu (“conch”) (thus doublet of pū).


tī

From Proto-Polynesian *tī, from Proto-Oceanic *jiri, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *siRi, originally meaning Cordyline fruticosa.


tī

Borrowed from English tea, from Dutch thee, from Hokkien 茶 (tê).


hae

From Proto-Polynesian *sae₁ (“to tear something”) (compare with Hawaiian hae, Tahitian hahae and haehae plus Samoan sae), from Proto-Oceanic *saRe (compare with Fijian sei) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *saRek (compare with Malay carik (“to tear, to rip”) and Tagalog sira (“damage, rupture, tear”)).


hae

From Proto-Polynesian *sae₂ (“wild, fierce”) (compare with Hawaiian hae (“rage, fury”), Tahitian pohehae (“jealous”) and hae (“anger”) plus Samoan sae).


tai āniwhaniwha

Compound of tai (“sea”) + āniwhaniwha (“wild”). The latter term appears to be ā- (“in the manner of”, prefix) + niwhaniwha (“wild, fierce, raging”).


matā

From Proto-Polynesian *mata-a (compare with Hawaiian mākā).


karu

E ai ki ngā kōrero i whakapurua e Te Whānau-a-Apanui ngā karu o te papa angaanga o tana matua, o Te Pori-o-te-rangi, ki te harare pūwhero.
It is said that Te Whānau-a-Apanui plugged up the eye sockets of the skull of her father, Te Pori-o-te-rangi, with red sealing wax.

spongy matter around the seeds of a gourd


pū

From Proto-Polynesian *puqu (compare with Hawaiian pū “tree, clump”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *puqun (compare with Tagalog puno, Malay pohon and Iban pun all meaning “tree”).


pū

From Proto-Polynesian *pusi₁ (also doublet of puhi). Noun sense of gun is semantic extension from shape of barrels.

reed, tube, pipe
any elongated wind musical instrument


pō

From Proto-Polynesian *poo, from Proto-Central Pacific *boŋi, from Proto-Oceanic *boŋi (compare with Samoan pogi, Hawaiian poni), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bəʀŋi (compare with Javanese wengi), from Proto-Austronesian *bəʀŋi.


pā

From Proto-Polynesian *paa (“enclosure”) (cognates include Hawaiian pā (“wall”) and Rapa Nui pā) from Proto-Oceanic *baRa (cognates include Fijian ba) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baRa

fortified village, usually on steep-sided raised ground that facilitates defence and affords good view of approaching attackers, such as a hilltop, promontory or small island


pā

Variant of pākia from Proto-Polynesian *paa-kia (compare with Hawaiian pāʻia and Tongan pākia).


ō

From Proto-Polynesian *qoho (“journey provisions”), from Proto-Oceanic *qoso (“ibid.”) (cognate of Hawaiian ō (“food, provisions”)).


tupuna

From Proto-Oceanic *tumpu from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ta- + Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *umpu (“grandparent or grandchild”), probably from Proto-Austronesian *apu (“grandparent or grandchild”) (*umpu is one of several PMP roots that are identical, except for the first vowel).

der

A grandparent, or any ancestor more remote than one's parents.


ponga

→ English: ponga, punga


tangata tiriti

A modern Māori language term which is taken to mean 'people of the treaty' and refers to all non-Māori citizens and residents of Aotearoa New Zealand. First coined by Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie, the chair of the Waitangi Tribunal, at Waitangi in 1989. He referred to Tangata Tiriti as those who belong to Aotearoa New Zealand by right of te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi. The term gained some broader exposure when it was presented to mainstream New Zealand in 2006 in a human rights commission document published by Auckland Workers Educational Association, Tangata Tiriti - Treaty People (2006).

"People of the Treaty", or New Zealanders of non-Māori origin.

In New Zealand

tangata whenua (the people of the land, aboriginals)

Includes all non-Māori people who have a right to live in New Zealand under the Treaty of Waitangi.


aihe

Delphinus delphis
Delphinus delphis#Translingual

The short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis


pua

From Proto-Oceanic *puŋa (“flower; bossom”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buŋa (“flower, blossom”) (compare with Malay bunga), from Proto-Austronesian *buŋa (“flower, blossom”).


kupu

From Proto-Polynesian *kupu (cognates include Hawaiian ʻupu (“thought, recollection”), Tahitian ʻupu (“prayer, invocation”) and Samoan ʻupu), from Proto-Oceanic *puku by metathesis, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bukuh (compare with Malay buku). Sense of "word" comes from metaphorical comparison of segments of written speech with culms of bamboo.

(archaic, obsolete) culm (of grass, bamboo)


hua

From Proto-Polynesian *fua, from Proto-Oceanic *puaq, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buaq, from Proto-Austronesian *buaq (“fruit”) (compare Malay buah).

I ētahi tau he tino kaha kē te hua o ngā piki nei, ā, he tino reka hoki mō te kai. I ētahi rā, i te haere kē mātau, hoki rawa mai kua pau ngā hua te kai i te mahi a te tamariki.

In some years these fig trees bear fruits prolifically and they were very tasty to eat. Some days, when we went elsewhere, when we returned the fruits had all been eaten by the many children.

hua heihei


pono

From Proto-Polynesian *pono, from Proto-Oceanic *bonor, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bənər (compare with Malay benar). Probably an innovation of Eastern Polynesian, with the similarity being accidental on account of final *-r.

Kua kitea e mātou te pono o aua kupu.


poti

Probably either from English pussy (as in pussy-cat) or a parallel onomatopoetic formation (compare Arabic بَسَّة (bassa), Lithuanian puižė).

Felis silvestris catus
Felis silvestris catus#Translingual


rara

From Proto-Oceanic *rara, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *dada, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dahdah, from Proto-Austronesian *daSdaS (“chest”).


tona

From Proto-Polynesian *jona (“yaws”) (compare with Hawaiian kona and konakona (“wart”), Tahitian tona (“wart, chancre”) and Tongan tona (“yaws”)).


tuki

From Proto-Polynesian *tuki (compare with Hawaiian kuʻi, Tongan tuki) from Proto-Austronesian *tuktuk ultimately onomatopoeic.


taika

Panthera tigris
Panthera tigris#Translingual


taru

From Proto-Polynesian *talu, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *talun, from Proto-Austronesian *CaluN.


rehu

From Proto-Polynesian *rapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Hawaiian lehu (“ash”); Tahitian rehu (“ash, grey colour”) and rehurehu (“twilight”); Tongan efu (“dust, human remains”); Samoan lefulefu) from Proto-Oceanic *dapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Fijian dravu (“ashes”) and dravuloa (“grey”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dapuR (“hearth”) (compare with Malay dapur (“kitchen”) and Tagalog dapog (“open fire”)). Doublet of rehurehu, nehu, and nehunehu.


ingoa

From Proto-Polynesian *hingoa; cognate with Hawaiian inoa, Tahitian iʻoa, Ontong Java iŋoa, Samoan igoa, Tuvaluan igoa and Rapa Nui ingoa.


wā

From Proto-Polynesian *wasa (“interval (of space or time)”) (compare with Hawaiian wā, Tahitian va, Tongan vā (“distance”), Samoan vā (“space”)).


punga

From Proto-Polynesian *puŋa (“coral rock”) (compare with Hawaiian puna (“coral, lime, plaster, calcium”), Tahitian puʻa (“coral, lime”), Tongan punga, Samoan puga) from Proto-Oceanic *buŋa (“white, porous coral or growth”) (compare with Fijian vuga), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buŋa ni batu (“coral sponge, lit. 'stone bloom'”) extension of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buŋa (“flower”) (compare with Malay bunga and bunga karang (“sponge”)). Doublet of pungapunga and pua.

inh

pungarehu: ash

pungapunga: pumice


hoa

From Proto-Polynesian *soa, from Proto-Oceanic *soʀa (“friend, partner”). Cognate with Hawaiian hoa.

friend, companion, mate, partner, spouse, ally


hoa

From Proto-Polynesian *foa (“make a path”).


aua

From Proto-Polynesian *qaua (“a kind of mullet”).

yellow-eye mullet, (Aldrichetta forsteri)


maunga

From Proto-Polynesian *maquŋa. Cognate with Hawaiian mauna, Samoan mauga, and Tongan moʻunga.

Kei te āta āngia haeretia e te Pākehā, āpōpō ake nei piri mai ana i ngā pari, i runga rānei i ngā keokeonga o ngā maunga
We are slowly being driven out by the Pākehā and soon will be clinging to the cliffs or on the peaks of the mountains.


kō

From Proto-Polynesian *koho (compare with Hawaiian ʻōʻō and ʻō, Tahitian ʻō and Samoan ʻoso) from Proto-Oceanic *kojom (“husking stick”).


rimu

→ English: rimu

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *rimu, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *rimu, from Proto-Polynesian *rimu, from Proto-Oceanic *limut, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *limut, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *limut, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *limut, doublet of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lumut (compare Malay lumut).

a large tree native to New Zealand (Dacrydium cupressinum); see English rimu.


waiū

Compound of wai (“water, liquid, secretion”) + ū (“breast, teat”); compare with Malay air susu.


tūrangawaewae

From tūranga (“place to stand, position, site, situation; foundation”) (from tū (“to stand”) + ‑ranga (suffix forming nouns from verbs)) + waewae (“foot; leg; footprint”).

turangawaewae (“the place where one belongs or has a right to live; one's own land; also, the sense of freedom, identity, and spiritual connection associated with this place”)


kano

From Proto-Polynesian *kano (compare Hawaiian ʻano and ʻanoʻano, Tahitian ʻaʻano and Tongan kano), from Proto-Oceanic *kanon (“flesh; kernel”) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kan-ən from Proto-Austronesian *kaən-an (“food, cooked rice”) from Proto-Austronesian *kaən (“to eat”) (thus doublet of kai).


patu

From Proto-Polynesian *patu (“to strike”).


riki

Borrowed from English leek, from Middle English lek, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *laukaz.


kakara

From Proto-Polynesian *kakala (cognates include Hawaiian ʻaʻala and ʻala, Tahitian ʻāʻara, Samoan alalā and Tongan kakala).


momo

a type, a kind, a species, a breed, a variety, a race, a genre


tarakihi

A grey and black saltwater fish, Nemadactylus macropterus, found off the coast of Australia, New Zealand and South America.


kohe

From Proto-Polynesian *kofe (cognate with Rarotongan ko'e, Samoan ʻofe, Hawaiian ʻohe). Sense of tree comes from similarity of thick stems and leaflet bases to bamboo fronds displacing the original meaning.


kohe

Passiflora tetrandra, a kind of passionfruit endemic to New Zealand.


wiri

From Proto-Polynesian *wili. Cognates include Hawaiian wili and Samoan vili.

gimlet, auger, drill, screwdriver, anything for boring holes

(music) trembling of the hands in Maori singing to indicate the interface between the mind and the body (the wiri represents the shimmering of the ocean water, the heat waves rising from the ground, the wind rustling the tree leaves)


takahē

→ English: takahe, takahē

From takahi (“to trample”); from Proto-Polynesian *taka-fi (“to tread on, to trample”) (compare with Hawaiian keʻehi (“to stamp, to trample, to brace with one's feet”), Tahitian taʻahi, Tongan takahi (“to scratch”)).

cog

takahē, species of large flightless bird in the Rallidae family, endemic to New Zealand.


whakapapa

whaka- (“to make”) + papa (“flat and broad; a layer”)

af

Genealogy, genealogical table, descent, lineage.


kohekohe

Reduplication of Proto-Polynesian *kofe indicating reminiscence of thick stems and leaflet bases to those in fronds of bamboo or kohe (cognate with Rarotongan ko'e, Samoan ʻofe, Hawaiian ʻohe).

Dysoxylum spectabile, a medium-sized tree native to New Zealand, related to mahogany.


ipu

From Proto-Oceanic *ibu (“coconut shell cup”), from Proto-Austronesian *ibu (“container for liquids”).


piro

From Proto-Oceanic *pilo (compare with Samoan piro, Tahitian piro (“dirty, smelly”) and Hawaiian pilo (“foul odour, halitosis, pollution”)). Maybe related to pirau (“to decay, to fester”).


pepe tunga

huhu beetle or Prionoplus reticularis, a longhorn beetle species of the Cerambycidae family which is the largest endemic beetle found in New Zealand.


whanga

From Proto-Polynesian *faŋa₃ from Proto-Oceanic *paŋa (“to gape open”); compare with Hawaiian hono (“harbor”), Tahitian faʻa (“valley”), Tongan fanga, and Samoan faga (“bay”)


umere

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *umele (compare with Hawaiian mele).


kahikatea

From kahika (“Malay apple”) + tea (“white”), due to its similar-tasting fruits or white wood.

Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, a coniferous tree endemic to New Zealand.


hiko

Compare with Maori uira, Hawaiian uila, Tahitian uira and Tongan ʻuhila for semantic extension into "electricity".


kaha

From Proto-Polynesian *kafa (“strong”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kabal (“invunerable”).


kaha

From Proto-Polynesian *kafa (“sennit”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kapas (“cotton, thread”), from an Austroasiatic language.


kauri

From Proto-Polynesian *kauquli (cognate with Tahitian ʻāuri (“iron, steel”), Samoan ʻauli (“clothing iron”) and ʻauʻauli (“Diospyros samoensis”)), from *kau (“tree”) + *quli (“black”), originally referring to Samoan ebony ("Diaspyros samoensis").

A conifer of the genus Agathis, family Araucariaceae, found in Australasia and Melanesia.

Agathis australis, a large conifer of the family Araucariaceae.


harakeke

Ultimately from Proto-Austronesian *paŋudaN.

Unuhia te rito o te harakeke / Kei hea te kōmako e kō?

If you remove the centre of the flax bush / Where then will the bellbird sing?


mahi

→ English: mahi

From Proto-Polynesian *mafi (“strong, powerful, energetic, hardworking”).

he mahi pai noa iho

easy as, it was no problem, it is no problem, it will be no problem, it's a piece of cake

hunga kore mahi

unemployed people, jobless people, unemployed

mahi atu

forget it, get on and do it then, go on then do it, get lost

mahi tahi

to work together, collaborate, cooperate; working together, collaboration, cooperation, teamwork

mahi waimori

to work in a casual job, do casual work; casual job, casual work, casual labour

paearu mahi

performance criteria, performance criterion

te mahi a te

abundance of, lots of, many, heaps of, in droves

ngā mahi a te rēhia

pursuit of pleasure, recreational activities, entertainment

work, job, employment, trade (work), practice, occupation, activity, exercise, operation, function


ū

From Proto-Polynesian *susu (compare Hawaiian ū, Tongan huhu) from Proto-Oceanic *susu (compare with Fijian sucu), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *susu (compare with Malay susu), from Proto-Austronesian *susu (compare with Tagalog suso).


uku

From Proto-Polynesian *uku (“to scour, to wipe”) (compare with Samoan uʻu (“to smear, to annoint”), Tongan ukuʻi (“to wash”)),


te reo Māori

From te (definite article) + reo (“language, speech”) + Māori (“Maori; normal”).


raurau

Reduplication of rau from Proto-Oceanic *rau, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dahun.


piopio

Charadrius bicinctus
Charadrius bicinctus#Translingual

double-banded plover (Charadrius bicinctus)


mātanga

experienced person, expert, professional


waipiro

Derived from wai (“water”) + piro (“stinking”).


rākau

From Proto-Polynesian *raqakau (compare Hawaiian lāʻau), from Proto-Oceanic *raqan kayu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *daqan kahiw (compare Malay dahan kayu).

He wahine tāroaroa i raro i te rākau rā.


rangatira

From Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *ragatira.

chief, chieftain, chieftainess, though of lesser rank than an ariki (paramount chief)


huri

From Proto-Polynesian *fuli (“to turn round”) (compare with Hawaiian huli, Tahitian huri, Samoan fuli, Tongan fuli) from Proto-Oceanic *buliŋ (“to roll”) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *puliŋ (“to rotate”)


inanga

A fish, the jollytail (Galaxias maculatus).

The grass tree, a shrub in the genus Dracophyllum.


huruhuru

coarse hair or fur (as opposed to hair on the head, for example: hair on an animal or pubic hair)


arero

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *qalelo (compare Hawaiian alelo, Rapa Nui arero), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *deləq (compare Kiput deleiʔ), doublet of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dilaq (compare Tagalog dila, Malay lidah).


taringa

From Proto-Oceanic *taliŋa (compared to Samoan taliga, Fijian daliga), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taliŋa (compare with Malay telinga, Tagalog tainga), from Proto-Austronesian *Caliŋa. See also Tongan talingelinga and Fijian daliga for sense of fungus by semantic extension.

taringa kuri: Auricularia cornea (lit. “dog ear”)

taringa o Tiakiwai: Auricularia polytricha


tokerau

Inherited from Proto-Polynesian *tokelau (“northwesterly”). Cognates include Tokelauan tokelau, Samoan to'elau, and Rapa Nui tokerau.
No words for the cardinal directions can be unambiguously reconstructed for Proto-Polynesian, as there would be little use for them on the small Polynesian islands. However, on the much larger North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu) of New Zealand, the usefulness of such terminology led the Māori to adopt this word for "north".


taura

From Proto-Polynesian *taura (compare with Hawaiian kaula (“cord, tendon”), Samoan taula (“anchor”) and Tongan toua)


hinga

From Proto-Polynesian *siŋa (compare with Hawaiian hina, Tongan hinga, Tahitian hiʻa)


hinu

From Proto-Polynesian *sinu (compare with Tahitian hinu, Tongan huni) from Proto-Oceanic *sinu (compare with Fijian sinu).


auahi

From Proto-Polynesian *qahu, from Proto-Oceanic *qasu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qasu (“smoke; fume; steam”).


pukapuka

Reduplication of puka. Sense of book due to similar white pages, likely influenced by the English book with reduplication also indicating quantity of pages.

Brachyglottis repanda, shrub with soft leaves with white undersides.


manaia

Cognate to Niuean fakamanaia and Samoan fa'amanaia, with the original meaning of "decoration".

a manaia (a figure often seen in art, generally depicted as a man with a bird's head)


kī

Inherited from East Polynesian. Compare Rapa Nui kī, Hawaiian ʻī, Tahitian i.


kī

Inherited from Tahitic. Compare Tahitian ‘ī.


aitu

From Proto-Polynesian *qaitu. Cognates include Niuean aitu and Samoan aitu.


wānanga

From Proto-Polynesian *fanaŋa (“story for entertainment, short repetitive chant”) – compare with Rapa Nui vānanga (“language”), Hawaiian wānana and wālana (both “prophecy, prediction”), Tahitian vānaʻa (“knowledge”) and vanaʻa (“lore, story”).

person who is knowledgeable in traditional lore


rūpi

Borrowed from English ruby and English rupee respectively.


whānau

→ English: whanau

Proto-Polynesian *faanau (*fānau) ("to give birth"). Cognates include Hawaiian hānau and Tokelauan fānau.

an extended family; a group of family members


whenu

strand (each of the strings that make up a rope, etc.)


pāua

Any of the three species of large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs of the family Haliotidae (sole genus Haliotis), known in the United States and Australia as abalone, and in the United Kingdom as ormer shells.


kau aihe

Compound of kau (“to swim”) + aihe (“dolphin”).


ōritetanga

From ōrite (“alike, even”) + -tanga (“-ness”).


ripo

From Proto-Polynesian *lipo (compare with Tahitian riporipo, Hawaiian lipo and lipolipo) from Proto-Polynesian *lepu (“agitated, rough (of water)”). Doublet of riporipo.


kahu

From Proto-Oceanic *kafu (“to cover, to put on clothing”) (compare to Tongan kafu, Samoan ʻafu, Hawaiian ʻahu), from Proto-Oceanic *kaput (“to wrap or cover”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaput (“to clasp together”).


ngāwhā

→ English: ngawha

From Proto-Polynesian *ŋafaqa (“to burst open, to crack”) (compare with Tahitian ʻafā, Tongan ngafa, Hawaiian nahā).


kawakawa

From its supposed resemblance to Proto-Polynesian *kawa (“bitter ginger; bitter; kava”), duplicated to indicate similarity (thus, cognate with Hawaiian ʻawa, Tongan kava and Samoan ʻava). Further derived from Proto-Oceanic *kawaʀ (“potent root”) metathesis of Proto-Oceanic *wakaʀ (“root”), thus doublet of aka (“root”).

der

kawakawa (Piper excelsum), a shrub endemic to New Zealand.


kiwikiwi

English: kiwikiwi

Blechnum fluviatile, the star fern or creek fern.


wīwī

(with wāwā) somewhere; hither and thither


wāwā

(with wīwī) somewhere; hither and thither


pātai

Me i 'āe' mai koe ki te pātai te Wāhanga A, e pātai ana mehemea he Māori koe nō Aotearoa, he uri rānei nō tētahi Māori nō Aotearoa [...]

2013, New Zealand Government, Information for enrolling (pamphlet)

If you answered 'yes' to the question in Section A asking whether you are a New Zealand Maori or a descendant of New Zealand Maori …


kiekie

From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *kiekie (“Freycinetia species”) from Proto-Oceanic *kiRe-kiRe (“pandanus”) from Proto-Oceanic *kiRe from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kiRay.

A vine used by the Maori for food and as material for mats, Freycinetia banksii


rengarenga

From Proto-Polynesian *renga from Proto-Oceanic *renga "turmeric", due to similar looking fleshy stems and rhizomes or tubers. Cognate with Hawaiian lena, Tahitian reʻa, Samoan lega and Tongan enga all meaning "turmeric".

Arthropodium cirratum, a herbaceous perennial plant endemic to New Zealand.


tokotoko

Reduplication of toko (see Hawaiian koʻokoʻo) fron Proto-Polynesian *toko (compare with Samoan toʻo, Hawaiian koʻo) from Proto-Oceanic *tokon, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *təkən (“bamboo punting pole, to press downward”) (compare with Malay tekan, Tagalog tikin).


auau

From Proto-Polynesian *(q)au (“howl, bark”).


konene

wanderer, wayfarer, drifter, refugee, displaced person


uruwhenua

uru (“enter”) + whenua (“country, land”)

compound

uruwhenua Aotearoa


rangatiratanga

→ English: rangatiratanga

[ɾɐŋɐˈtiɾɐ.tɐŋɐ]

Derived from rangatira (“to be of high rank”) + -tanga


tohunga

Cognate with Hawaiian kahuna, Tahitian tahua, Tongan tufaga and Samoan tufuga.


kōura

From kō- + ura.
From Proto-Polynesian *qura, from Proto-Oceanic *quraŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qudaŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *qudaŋ.


kōura

Borrowing of English gold, with sounds changed to conform to Māori phonetics.


maitai

Compound of mai (“from”) + tai (“sea”), sense of iron from their introduction by trade with European sailors.

(esp. Urewera, Bay of Plenty) iron
metal


karaka

From Proto-Polynesian *kalaka from Proto-Oceanic *kalaka (“Planchonella”).

A leafy evergreen tree (Corynocarpus laevigatus) with bright orange fruit endemic to New Zealand.


moeriki

Dieffenbach's rail (†Gallirallus dieffenbachii)


Rātapu

From rā (“day”) + tapu (“holy”). Compare Tahitian Mahana Tapu.


huka

Cognate with Hawaiian huʻa (“foam, bubbles”)

snow, foam, froth, any white form of precipitation


manawa

From Proto-Polynesian *manawa (compare with Tongan manava and Tahitian manava (both “belly”), Samoan manava (“lower abdomen”)), from Proto-Oceanic *mañawa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *manihawa, from *nihawa (compare with Malay nyawa (“live”), Central Dusun ginawo (“heart”), Tagalog ginhawa (“comfort”)), from Proto-Austronesian *NiSawa (“breath, life force”). Compare also with ate and ngākau for similar connections of biology and emotion.

inh

Kāore i takitaro e tū ana ka neke whakamuri tētahi o ngā waewae, kātahi ka maranga te ringa, ko te ākinga iho, ngangengange noa te manawa o tōna tāne i te naihi e mau ana i tōna ringa.

She didn't stand there long before she moved one leg backwards, then raised her hand and thrust it down piercing the heart of her husband with the knife she held in her hand.

Ka pā te aroha ki te ngākau, ka hotu te manawa.

I'm affected by concern and my heart sobs.

heart (of a person)
heart (seat of affections)

Kua rere ake te manawa nei ki runga ki te ihu.


maika

Related to Tahitian me'a and Hawaiian maiʻa from Proto-Polynesian *maika.


pukatea

Compound of puka (“large-leaf Pisonia”) + tea (“white”) – compare with Tongan puka and Samoan puʻa vai (“Pisonia grandis”). Also cognate with Tahitian puʻatea (“ibid.”).

compound

Laurelia novae-zelandiae,a tree ideal for canoe wood


tiriti

Te Tiriti o Waitangi


pīkake

From English peacock.
Cognate with Hawaiian pīkake.


rawa

From Proto-Polynesian *lawa₁ (compare with Hawaiian lawa (“abundance, plenty”)).


kaupapa

He oneone te kaupapa o te whare.

level surface, floor, stage, platform, layer

I tuhi a Rōpiha i ētahi pūrongo i 'Te Ao Hou', ā, i āwhina atu hoki ia ki te ārahi i ngā kaupapa a te maheni nei i ōna tau tuatahi.
Rōpiha wrote articles for 'Te Ao Hou', and he also helped guide the magazine’s policies in its early years.

topic, policy, matter for discussion, plan, purpose, scheme, proposal, agenda, subject, programme, theme, issue, initiative

Ka mahia te kaupapa raupō ... ka hoea taua kaupapa ki te au o te awa punga ai
The raupō raft was made and then it was paddled into the current of the river to anchor it.

Ka whakamaua atu ngā huruhuru kiwi ki te kaupapa o te kahu.

The kiwi feathers were fixed to the body of the cloak.


karakia

an incantation, ritual chant, spell (related to Maori traditions)

Kahore e whakahaumaru tō karakia

2021, “Kai Whatu”, performed by Alien Weaponry:

a prayer, grace, blessing (related to introduced religions)


kangarū

From English kangaroo from Guugu Yimidhirr gangurru (“eastern grey kangaroo”).


rā

From Proto-Polynesian *la (cognates with Hawaiian lā and Tahitian rā), from Proto-Oceanic *layaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *layaʀ (compare with Malay layar), from Proto-Austronesian *layaʀ.

Whakaarahia te rā kaihau.

(nautical) sail (a piece of fabric attached to a boat)


rā

From Proto-Polynesian *laqa. Compare Hawaiian lā.


matangi

Kāore he matangi, koirā i tino kino ai te pārūrū.

There was no breeze, and that's why the humidity was so bad.


tūtae

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *tuutaʻe. Compare Hawaiian kūkae (“excrement, dung, feces”).


tahua

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *tafuqa (“platform; foundation, base”) (compare with Tahitian tahua (“floor, deck, field”) and Hawaiian kahua (“field”)).

inh

tahua riringa: battlefield

(of a house)


tumu

From Proto-Oceanic *tumu (compare with Hawaiian kumu)


amokura

red-tailed tropicbird
red-tailed tropicbird


pītau

figurehead on a canoe with such a carving

spiral carving
canoe with such a figurehead


rārangi

Me haina i runga i te rārangi iraira.

Ki tāku titiro he rārangi tika te rārangi toru o te Pire nei.

In my opinion the third clause of this Bill is correct.


kaumātua

From Proto-Polynesian *kaumatuqa related to Proto-Polynesian *matuqa, analyzed as kau + mātua (see Hawaiian ʻaumakua). Doublet of koromatua.


tikanga

custom, convention, correct manner of doing things


kokomo

Partial reduplication of komo (“to insert”) from Proto-Polynesian *komo₁ (compare with Hawaiian ʻomo (“lid, cover”)).


whana

From Proto-Polynesian, from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *panaq, from Proto-Austronesian *panaq.

revolt, rebellion, mutiny, uprising, riot, insurrection


kapuni

From Kapuni in Taranaki, the location of New Zealand's first production natural gas field.


mānuka

→ English: manuka

Leptospermum scoparium
Leptospermum scoparium#Translingual

Leptospermum scoparium, a shrub or small tree native to New Zealand and southeast Australia.


terepōno

Borrowing from English telephone (compare Hawaiian kelepona).


waea

waea pūkoro

cellular phone, cellphone, mobile phone, smartphone

telegram, telephone message, cable, wire


whai

From Proto-Polynesian *fai, from Proto-Oceanic *paʀi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paʀih, from Proto-Austronesian *paʀiS (“stingray”).


whai

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *fai (“to follow”).


heke

From Proto-Polynesian *seke (compare with Tongan heke (“slippery, to slide”); Tahitian heʻe and paheʻe (“to slide”); South Marquesan heʻe and North Marquesan heke; South Marquesan tiheʻe and North Marquesan tiheke; Hawaiian heʻe (“to melt, to flow”)) Doublet of hekeheke.


mātau

From Proto-Polynesian *ma(a)taqu, from Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *taqu (compare with Malay tahu (“to know”)), from Proto-Austronesian *Caqu.

Ma te mātau ka ora.


kōhanga

From Proto-Polynesian *kofa-ŋa (“nest”), from *kofa (from Proto-Oceanic *kopa) plus nominalizing suffix
From *-ŋa.
Cognate with Hawaiian ʻohana (“family, relatives, kin”), Rarotongan koʻanga (“nest”), Samoan ōfaga (“nest”), Tahitian ofaaraa (“nest”).

cog

birthplace, cradle, homeland, stronghold, bastion


tuhinga

He maha anō hoki ngā tuhinga atu a Tāmihana ki te kāwana i muri mai ki te kī atu, kāhore kau te Māori e rapu whawhai ana, me te pātai he aha te take e hanga nei i ngā rāihe me ngā huarahi mai i Ākarana ki ngā rohe ki te raki o Waikato.
Tamihana later wrote more letters to the governor, saying that the Māori were not seeking war, and questioning the construction of redoubts and roads between Auckland and northern Waikato.


kōrero

Cognate with Tahitian orero and Hawaiian ʻōlelo.


urupā

→ English: urupa


whare herehere

I te 17 o Hune nei, i whakawākia rāua i te Kōti Matua mō te hara tuhituhi pukanoa i ngā ingoa tāngata kē ki ngā tieki tono moni i ngā pēke, ā whakataua ana e te kōti kia kotahi tau mō tētahi, mō tētahi ki te whare herehere.

On 17th June they went on trial in the Supreme Court for writing fraudulent cheques and were each sentenced by the court to one year in prison.


whare karakia

Compound of whare (“house”) + karakia (“prayer, incantation, church service”).

compound

Nō te rā hāpati i kauhau ai a Te Karaiti, i roto i ngā whare karakia.

On the sabbath day Christ preached in the churches.

a religious building: a church, a synagogue, a mosque, a house of prayer


hōiho uha

Compound of hōiho (“horse”) + uha (“female”).


kaimahi

Kīhai i roa ka tatū ia ki raro, ka tū ki waenganui o ana kaimahi kua ngau nei ō rātou ngākau i te mataku kei pau katoa rātou te kai e te ahi.

Before long he reached the bottom and stood amongst his employees who were overcome by fear that they might all be consumed by the fire.


Mihinare

From English missionary; early missionaries to New Zealand were Anglican.


hopu

Ka kōhimu mai ki a au, "E Hēmi, hiwitia ake te ārai hiraka o taku konohi. Kei te hēmanawa au." Tere tonu taku hopu i tōna ringaringa, ka hiwitia e au te ārai.
She whispered to me, "Hēmi, pull back the silk veil of my face. I am too hot." I quickly took hold of her hand and I pulled back the veil.


ngeru

A nominalisation of ngerungeru (“smooth, soft, sleek”)


taera

Mā te taera ko te whānau tamariki hai kawe i te momo tangata.

Sexual desire determines the procreation of the human species.


hōkakatanga

Mai i tōna tamarikitanga tae rā anō ki te tīmatanga o tōna pakeketanga, he mea huna tōna hōkakatanga e ia.

From his childhood right through to the beginning of adulthood he hid his sexuality.


rēparo

Panthera pardus
Panthera pardus#Translingual


hēki

Titiro ki te hēki rakiraki, pīpipi rānei, kuihi rānei, e hoatu ana kia pēhia e te heihei.

Look at a duck's egg, or the egg of a brown creeper or a goose, given to a hen to sit on.


rīngi mārena

From rīngi (“ring”) + mārena (“marriage”).


whakawahine

head

whakawahine (irregular plural whakawāhine)

From whaka- + wahine (“woman”). Cognate with Samoan fa'afafine.

Coordinate term: tangata ira tāne

In Samoa, people assigned male at birth who live as women are known as fa'afafine, which literally translates to "in the fashion of a woman". Similar identities to fa'afafine are found in Tonga (fakaleitī or leitī), Fiji (vaka sa lewa lewa), Niue (fakafifine), Kiribati and Tuvalu (pinapinaaine) and the Cook Islands (akava'ine).

2019 August 31, Alan Weedon, “Fa'afafine, fakaleitī, fakafifine — understanding the Pacific's alternative gender expressions”, in ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (in English), retrieved 2020-05-31:

a person assigned male at birth who lives and behaves as a female socially; literally "to become a woman"


purupuru

Reduplication (thus doublet) of puru from Proto-Oceanic *pulu (“coconut husk”) (compare with Fijian bulu and Hawaiian pulu "coconut husk") from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bulut. Sense of "plug" is a semantic extension from the lack of coconuts found naturally in New Zealand.


takiwātanga

From takiwā + -tanga, from tōku/tōna anō takiwā (“my/his/her own time and space”), coined in 2017.

The Autism Clinic—Te Rāngai Takiwātanga has been established at Victoria University of Wellington to evaluate best practice early interventions for young children with autism in New Zealand.

2019 August 6, “The Autism Clinic—Te Rāngai Takiwātanga”, in Victoria University of Wellington–1st for research intensity (in English), Victoria University, Wellington, retrieved 2019-09-13:


pakini

(punctuation) apostrophe (the character ’)


tūpara

double-barrelled shotgun
double-barrelled shotgun


anuhe

caterpillar of the convolvulus hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli)


pīokeoke

Squalus acanthias
Squalus acanthias#Translingual

spotted estuary smooth-hound (Mustelus lenticulatus)


pīwakawaka

New Zealand fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)


hīoi

New Zealand pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)


pāmu wēra

Physeter macrocephalus
Physeter macrocephalus#Translingual


kāinga

a place of residence (literally, a place where a fire has been lit)

an unfortified place of residence or village (in contrast to a pā, which is fortified)


kūmara

English: kumara

Cognate with Tongan kumala, Hawaiian ʻuala. Apparently connected to Quechua kumar.


uraura

From Proto-Polynesian *qura, from Proto-Oceanic *quraŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qudaŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *qudaŋ.


kōuraura

From kō- + ura. From Proto-Polynesian *qura, from Proto-Oceanic *quraŋ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qudaŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *qudaŋ.


kohuke

waikawa kohuke


whara

From Proto-Polynesian *fara (compare with Hawaiian hala, Pandanus tectorius), from Proto-Oceanic *padran, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paŋdan, from Proto-Austronesian *paŋudaN originally referring to the pandanus (compare with Malay pandan, any species in general esp. Pandanus amaryllifolius).

Any of the several plants in the families Asteliaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae.


onehunga

one (“sand, mud, soil”) + hunga (“fine”)


kaho

From Proto-Polynesian *kaso, from Proto-Oceanic *kaso, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kasaw (“rafter”).

horizontal wall batten in a meeting house


whau

From Proto-Polynesian *fau, from Proto-Oceanic *paʀu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baʀu (Hibiscus tiliaceus, compare with Malay baru and Hawaiian hau referring to that original species).


āngi

From Proto-Polynesian *aŋi, from Proto-Central Pacific *aŋi, from Proto-Oceanic *aŋin, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *haŋin.


takatāpui

gay person. Usually used in the context of LGBT Māori people


tangata ira tāne

Coordinate term: whakawahine

a person assigned female at birth who behave as a man


pāpaka

From Proto-Oceanic *paka-paka (compare with Tahitian paʻapaʻa, Samoan paʻa and paʻapaʻa, Tongan paka, and Hawaiian pāpaʻi)


pūtāhono

driver (program acting as interface between an application and hardware)


tāhono

tā- (“causative prefix”) + hono (“to join”)


atanga

ata (“appearance, image”) + -nga (“nominal suffix”)


pūmanawa

pū- (“origin, centre”) + manawa (“heart”)


whakatōpū kongakonga

whakatōpū (“amalgamate”) + kongakonga (“fragment, shrapnel”)


tūī

English: tui

tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae) a New Zealand bird


whetū

From Proto-Polynesian *fetuqu (cognate with Hawaiian hōkū and Tahitian fetū), from Proto-Oceanic *pituqun, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bituqən, from Proto-Austronesian *bituqən (cognate with Tagalog bituin).


āwhā

From Proto-Polynesian *afa, from Proto-Central-Pacific *avaa, from Proto-Oceanic *apaʀat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *habaʀat, from Proto-Austronesian *Sabaʀat (“southwest monsoon”).

inh

Nā te nui o te āwhā me te karawhiu o ngā haumātakataka kīhai i taea te māngoingoi ika (TWK 45:5).

Because of the heavy rainfall and force of the hurricane fishing was not possible.


māhina

From Proto-Polynesian *masina (compare with Samoan masina and Hawaiian mahina), from Proto-Oceanic *sinaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sinaʀ (compare with Malay sinar), from Proto-Austronesian *siNaʀ.


kahika

From Proto-Polynesian *kafika (cognate with Hawaiian ʻōhiʻa and Tongan fekika), from Proto-Oceanic *kapika (cognate with Fijian kavika).


poroporo

From Proto-Polynesian *polo; cognate with Hawaiian pōpolo, Tongan polo (“deadly nightshade, Solanum nigrum”), Fijian boro, Tuvaluan 'opolo (“capsicum”).


Ngāti

Ko Ngāti Te Kanawa he hapū nō Ngāti Maniapoto; arā ko ngā uri o Te Kanawa
Te Kanawa is a sub-tribe of Ngāti Maniapoto; and they are the descendants of Te Kanawa

Prefix for an iwi or hapū; tribal group.


rōpū

Ko te kaiwhakahaere o tēnei rōpū ko tētahi o ngā kaiārahi tūruhi o Te Whakarewarewa.

The organiser of this group is one of the tourist guides at Te Whakarewarewa.

An organized group of people; group, party, organisation, committee, company, gang, association, entourage, etc.


tōrangapū

Ahakoa mau haere tonu a Meri Mangakāhia ki ngā tōrangapū Māori me te toko anō i tōna iwi, kāore he kōrero i tua atu i rongohia mō āna mahi mō te Kotahitanga.
Although Meri Mangakāhia continued to be active in Māori politics and support of her people, nothing further is written about her participation in the Kotahitanga movement.


mutunga wiki

mutunga (“end”) + wiki (“week”), based on English weekend


kākāriki

a New Zealand parakeet of genus Cyanoramphus


whakawhanaungatanga

whaka- (“initiate”) + whanaungatanga (“relationship”), equivalent to whaka- + whanaunga (“relative”) + -tanga (“derived quality”)

compound

The process of establishing relationships.


whanaungatanga

whanaunga (“relative”) + -tanga (“derived quality”)


uwhi

From Proto-Polynesian *qufi, from Proto-Oceanic *qupi, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qubi (“yam”). Doublet of uhi.

Dioscorea alata
Dioscorea alata#Translingual


rāhuitanga

lockdown (confinement of people as a security measure)


rāhui

→ English: rahui

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *rafui, from a suffixed form of Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *lafu (“prohibit”).

inh

restriction of access to a place (as a form of taboo)


rāhui

From a suffixed form of Proto-Polynesian *lafu (“group of animals or birds”).


kāhu

Circus approximans
Circus approximans#Translingual

swamp harrier (Circus approximans), a species of harrier hawk


whao

From Proto-Polynesian *faqo (compare with Hawaiian hao (“iron, horn”), Tahitian fao (“tip, scissors”), Tuamotuan pao), from Proto-Oceanic *paqot (compare with Fijian ivako (“nail”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paqət (“chisel”) (compare with Malay pahat, Tagalog paet)


mamao

From Proto-Polynesian *mamaqo (compare with Hawaiian mamao, Tongan mamaʻo, Samoan mamao).


paihamu

brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)


Peraha

E rua tāngata nō Peraha, Ahitereiria i wini i tā rāua kōura moni, ko te toimaha o taua kōura tekau mā waru pauna weti.

Two people from Perth, Australia won their gold money, the weight of the gold was 18 pounds.

Western Australia
Western Australia#English

Perth (the capital of Western Australia, Australia)


pepeha

an introductory speech detailing one's ancestry


tauiwi

foreigner, European, non-Māori, colonist


Papua Nūkini

Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea#English:_Q691


kaitiakitanga

From kaitiaki (“guardian”) + -tanga (“[abstract]”), equivalent to kai- (“[agency]”) + tiaki (“to guard”) + -tanga (“[abstract]”).


manaakitanga

[mɐˈnɑːkiˌtɐ.ŋɐ]

showing kindness, generosity, respect to others


pōkokohua

Pōkokohua mā, me mutu ēnā mahi kōhuru!

(vulgar, offensive, derogatory) cunt, motherfucker, a highly offensive insult for an unpleasant person


kai hamuti

Kei noho koutou ka whakawhiwhi tūranga ki tēnā kai hamuti!

Don't you dare give that prick a position!


tohorā

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *duyuŋ (“dugong”).


maramataka

[mɐɾɐmɐˈtɐkɐ]

marama (“month”) + taka (“to come round”)?


inoi

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *noqi (“to ask for something, solicit”).


putiputi

Unknown; most certainly a loanword of non-Polynesian origin.


āraimate

ārai (“to prevent”) + mate (“disease; death”)


kano ārai mate

kano (“seed; grain”) + ārai mate (“immunity”)

te kano ārai mate Pfizer

te kano ārai mate AstraZeneca


rongoā āraimate

rongoā (“medicine”) + āraimate (“immunity”)

vaccination (inoculation with a vaccine)


ārai

From Proto-Polynesian [Term?]. Compare Hawaiian ālai (“screen; obstruction, hindrance”).


rongoā

Possibly from Proto-Polynesian *logoaqa (“noisy”)

medicine; drug; medication; treatment; remedy; tonic


angiangi

[ˈɐ.ŋiˌɐ.ŋi]

Ka tiri atu tō whāngai, ko angiangi ki te whakarua, ē, ko angiangi ki te māwake.

For you have been portioned out as food for the easterly breeze, and by the gentle southerly breeze.


kātoa

Any of the red variety of Leptospermum scoparium, a shrub or small tree native to New Zealand and southeast Australia.


hukapapa

Derived from huka (“snow”) + papa (“rump”).


kaihao

E kōrerohia mai ana, koia nei tētahi wāhi o te moana, tau ai ngā poti o ngā kaihao ika.

It is said that this is a part of the sea where the boats of the fishermen anchor.


tangaroa wae whitu

Astrostole scabra
Astrostole scabra#Translingual

Astrostole scabra - a large starfish with only seven arms.


kaimoana

Ānō he karoro e topa ana i runga i ngā kaimoana.

Like a black-backed gull soaring above seafood.


kererū

Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae#Translingual

The New Zealand pigeon (species Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae).


rākau whai hua

rākau (“tree”) + whai (“possessing”) + hua (“fruit”)


Hinekōrako

From hine (“daughter”) + kōrako (“albino”).


tāmure

Australasian snapper, New Zealand snapper, silver seabream (Pagrus auratus, syn. Chrysophrys auratus), a silvery pinkish to golden fish with numerous bright blue spots over upper sides.


rangatahi

fishing net about 20 meters long that is smaller than a kaharoa


āheahea

From ā- + heahea (“to be irrational”), literally “it was done irrationally”.

prefix

E hia kē nei ngā ingoa rerekē mō te kahukura. Ko ngā kupu kaha e whakamahia ana ko te āniwaniwa me te āheahea.
There are many names for the rainbow, the most common being 'āniwaniwa' and 'āheahea'.


ua kirikiri

Kātahi anō au ka kite i te ua kirikiri pēnei te mātotoru, me te kaha o te pupuhi a te hau.

It was the first time that I had seen a sandstorm this thick and with the wind blowing so hard.


marangai kirikiri

Ka whiti te rā, kāore e mōhiotia i te marangai kirikiri anō.

Because of the sandstorm, you'd never know that the sun was shining.


tarāpunga

[tɐ.ɾɑː.pʉ.ŋɐ]


karehākoa

karehā (“screech”) + koa (“to be joyful”)


moho-pererū

→ English: moho-pereru


kōtuku ngutupapa

Platalea regia
Platalea regia#Translingual


tahepuia

tahe (“flowing of liquids”) + puia (“volcano”)


kōauau

cross-blown flute made of wood, bone or a species of kelp


rātāhuihui

southern sunfish (Mola alexandrini, syn. Mola ramsayi)


orokohanga

oroko (“for the first time”) + hanga (“to build”)

af

He mahi tahito, nō te orokohanga rā anō o te ao.

It's an ancient activity right from the beginning of the world.


pōhutukawa

→ English: pohutukawa

From pō- (“-like, -ish”) + hutu (“Barringtonia asiatica”) + kawa (“bitter”)


makimaki

Reduplication of maki, from English monkey.


kotiate

He mea patu nāna te māhunga ki te kotiate.

He was killed by striking the head with a kotiate.

short weapon of wood or bone with a notch on both edges of the flat blade


kōhue

Ka hūpenupenu noa iho ngā kai i roto i te kōhue.


manatū

mana (“authority”) + tū (“to stand”), literally “standing authority”


poro-tapawhā rite

poro (“prism”) + tapawhā (“four-sided”) + rite (“equal”)


rārā

From Proto-Polynesian *raqaraqa (“branchy, having branches; small branches”), from *raqa (“branch of tree”).

inh

I te hokinga mai e mauria ake ana e rātou ngā rārā o te hunakeha, tō rātou rākau tipua, rākau tapu rawa hoki, te puna wairua o Ngāti Hāuaterangi.
They returned with branches from the legendary sacred hunakeha tree, an ancestral spiritual tree for Ngāti Hāua-te-rangi.


miware

young snail whelk (Haustrum haustorium, brown rock shell or dark rock shell)


paea

Xiphias gladius
Xiphias gladius#Translingual


matatangitangi

mata (“incantation; prophetic song”) + tangitangi (“to mourn”)


punua

Cognate to Samoan punua and Hawaiian pūnua (“a fledgeling”).


kārearea

Falco novaeseelandiae
Falco novaeseelandiae#Translingual

Falco novaeseelandiae, the only falcon endemic to New Zealand.


pāteke

The brown teal, a species of dabbling duck.


riroriro

A grey warbler, of the species Gerygone igata.


kōtare

The kotare, a kingfisher Halcyon sancta.


herehere

Ā ko ngā tākuta kua kore i kaha ki te noho roa i ngā puni o ngā herehere.

And the doctors could not stay long in the camps of the prisoners.


rāwhiti

From rā (“sun”) + whiti (“spring up”).
No words for the cardinal directions can be unambiguously reconstructed for Proto-Polynesian, as there would be little use for them on the small Polynesian islands. However, on the much larger North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South Island (Te Waipounamu) of New Zealand, the usefulness of such terminology led the Māori to coin this word for "east".


pane koti

He aha te rahi o tēnei pane koti?

Ka pīrangi au ki te hoko i tēnei pane koti whero.


hinahina

Reduplication (thus doublet) of hina from Proto-Polynesian *sina (compare with Samoan māsina and sina), from Proto-Oceanic *sinaʀ (compare with Fijian cina (“to illuminate”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *sinaʀ (compare with Malay sinar (“ray, shine”), Tagalog sinag), from Proto-Austronesian *siNaʀ.


marutau

[ˈmɐ.ɾʉ.tɐʉ]


haumaru

[ˈhɐʉ.mɐ.ɾʉ]


pūkāea

a kind of long wooden trumpet, traditionally used to relay signals during times of conflict and other important occasions


kōpakipaki

Reduplicated form of kōpaki ("husk") indicating its appearance (literally "husky").


rongonui

rongo (“hear; news; fame”) + nui (“big; great”)

compound

Nā tēnei whare ka puta tōna rongonui ki ngā tai katoa o te motu.

It is this house which brought his fame in all parts of the country.


matawā

mata (“face, screen, eye”) + wā (“time, season”).


purei

I a Te Kuīni anō i roto i tōna whare i Winiha Kāhere; whakamana ai tētahi mīhini, hei whakarongonga mā te Kuīni ki ngā purei i roto i ngā whare tiata, arā purei.

While the Queen was in her lodgings in Windsor Castle, a machine was set up so the Queen could listen to the plays in the theatres.


tāwhiri

From Proto-Polynesian *taafiri (compare with Tahitian tāhiri and tāhirihiri “fan”, Hawaiian kāhili “ceremonial staff or regalia”). Doublet of tāhiri.


ngākau

From Proto-Polynesian *ŋaakau; compare with Hawaiian naʻau (“intestines, mind”), Tahitian ʻāʻau (“bowels, heart, conscience, soul”), Tongan ngākau (“intestines”) and Samoan gāʻau (“entrails, penis”).


uira

From Proto-Polynesian *quhila (compare with Hawaiian uila, Tahitian uira, Tongan ʻuhila, Samoan uila), from Proto-Oceanic *qusila (compare with Fijian cila (“to shine”)), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *silaq (“outpouring or beam of light”) related to Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qusilak (“lightning”). Compare with Maori hiko aside from Hawaiian uila, Tahitian uira and Tongan ʻuhila for semantic extension into "electricity".


mōmona

From Proto-Polynesian *mona (compare with Hawaiian mona and momona (“fat, soft, sweet”), Tahitian momona and monamona (“sweet, tasty, dessert”)), from Proto-Oceanic *moñak, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *məñak (compare with Malay minyak (“oil”)).


mārama

From Proto-Polynesian *ma-ramaa (“to shine”) (compare with Hawaiian malama, Tongan māma), from Proto-Oceanic *ma-ramaʀ (“to shine”), from Proto-Oceanic *rama (compare with Fijian rama,) from Proto-Oceanic *ramaʀ, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *damaʀ (“tree resin”). (compare with Malay damar) Doublet of marama, rama, and mā.


tīare

From Proto-Polynesian *tiale (compare with Samoan tiale, Tongan siale, Tahitian tiare and Hawaiian kiele), sense of scent eventually displacing that of the flower.


pungapunga

Reduplication (thus doublet) of punga from Proto-Polynesian *puŋa (“coral rock”) (compare with Hawaiian puna (“coral, lime, plaster, calcium”), Tahitian puʻa (“coral, lime”), Tongan punga, Samoan puga) from Proto-Oceanic *buŋa (“white, porous coral or growth”) (compare with Fijian vuga), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buŋa ni batu (“coral sponge, lit. 'stone bloom'”) extension of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buŋa (“flower”) (thus doublet of pua; also compare with Malay bunga (“flower”) and bunga karang (“sponge”)).


pungapunga

Cognate with Hawaiian puna (“internode”) and Samoan puga (“groin”).


koromatua

From Proto-Polynesian *kolomatuqa (compare with Tahitian ʻorometua, Samoan loʻomatua) from Proto-Polynesian *kaumatuqa related to Proto-Polynesian *matuqa, analyzed as koro + mātua. Doublet of kaumātua.


ngaru

From Proto-Polynesian *ŋalu (“mounting wave, ocean wave”) (compare with Hawaiian nalu, Tahitian ʻaru, Tongan ngalu, Samoan galu), from Proto-Oceanic *ŋalun (“mountain wave”), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qalun (“long rolling wave; swell”) (compare with Malay alun, Tagalog álon).


kaitōrangapū

Ka nui kē nei te rerekē o ngā whakaaro mō te āhua pai o Pete Smith hei kaitōrangapū.

Opinions of the nature of Pete Smith as a politician vary widely.


whutupōro

I tae mai te tono a ngā tāngata o Karioi ki ngā tāngata o Moawhango kia haere atu ki reira ki te pūrei whutupōro.

A request arrived from the people of Karioi to the people of Moawhango to go there to play rugby.


kaimātakitaki

Heoi ka hurō te kaimātakitaki, me te whai haere e kore e taro kua karanga mai te kaimātakitaki, "Parao! Parao te Niu Tireni" me te hurō haere ana.

So the onlookers called out to us and followed us and it was not long before the spectators began to shout, ‘Bravo, bravo, New Zealand’ shouting all the while.


poitarawhiti

Ko te poitarawhiti te hākinakina nui rawa atu ki te hunga wahine.

Netball is the most popular women’s sport.


kaiwawao

He kaiwawao māraurau nei ia mō te tākaro tēnehi.

He was a qualified umpire for the sport of tennis.


pōro

Pupuri tonu tētahi ringa ki te aho kia mau tonu ai te pōro i te taha o te kānara, ko te matikara o tētahi ringa hei āta koropana i te pōro kia āta takahurihuri mārire ai.

Hold the string with one hand so that the ball is beside the candle and with a finger of the other hand carefully flick the ball so that it slowly revolves.


mātakitaki

Ka mutu tēnā mahi a te mātakitaki, ka hoki ki tō mātou puni.

When the sightseeing was finished we returned to our camp.


Ōpango

Kua nui ngā kaitākaro Māori i te kapa Ōpango i roto i ngā tau.
There have been many Māori players in the All Blacks over the years.


pānui

E ngā tāngata e tuku mai ana i ā koutou pānui kia pānuitia ki te 'Tiupiri' hei mātakitaki mā ngā motu e rua nei, kia mārama tā koutou tuku mai me te tuhituhi.

The people who are submitting notices to be published in the 'Jubilee' for these two islands to see, please write clearly.

public notice, announcement, poster, proclamation


whiu

Nō te kīanga atu a te tiati ki a ia, "Ko te whiu mōu tekau ngā tau ki te whare herehere," hei konei ka kanga te Māori nei.
When the judge said to him, "The sentence for you is ten years in prison," the Māori swore.

Ka kaha tana whiu i tana hama ki runga i te upoko o te nēra, e kore e piko, e kore e whati.

When he hits his hammer hard on the head of the nail, it won't bend or snap off.


whakataka

He nui te whakataka a ngā Hāmoa mō te rā e tae atu ai a Smythe.

There was much preparation by the Samoans for the day that Smythe would arrive.

Kua kōrerotia i te whakaupoko te whakataka a Te Kakatarau.
The raising of a war-party by Te Kakatarau is mentioned in the headnote.

Ko wai hei whakataka mō tātou ka mate ana ngā rangatira o nāianei?

Who will be a leader for us when today's chiefs die?

director, chief, administrator, controller, leader

whakataka, Corokia macrocarpa (a shrub or tree to 6 m tall with stout branches and dark, rough bark. Leaves are leathery and shiny on top with white tomentum underneath. Petals are bright yellow and drupes yellow, dark red to black.)


kōata

Te Kōata Ngaro


whare pikitia

whare + pikitia (Borrowing from English picture theatre)

Ka haere mātau i ētahi wā ki ngā whare o te Rōpū Karaitiana Mō Ngā Taitama ki roto i ngā wāhi ngahau pēnei i te whare pikitia, hōro kanikani rānei.

Sometimes we went to the establishments of the YMCA to the entertainment places such as the picture theatre or dance halls.


ngaro

Ko te ōkiha kua ngaua e taua ngaro, he mea anō ka hīrori, pērā me te kau kua kai i te tutu nei i tēnei motu i a tātou nei, ā ka pohe ngā kanohi, ka mate.

The steer that has been bitten by this insect, will later stagger around, like a cow which has eaten tutu in this country which goes blind and dies.

blowfly, houseflies of various species, insect - in connection with mākutu the fly represented the life or spirit of the person involved.


kumikumi

From Proto-Polynesian *kumikumi (“beard”) (compare with Hawaiian ʻumiʻumi (“beard, mane”), Tongan kumukumu (“chin”)) from Proto-Oceanic *kumi (compare with Fijian kumi (“beard, chin”)) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kumis (compare with Malay kumis (“moustache”)).


meremere

a short weapon typically made out of stone or greenstone


Wēra

Ā, i aua rā, i whakaae ngā ariki, arā ngā piriniha o te whenua i Wēra, kia utu i te utu tau a aua ariki ki a Etika

And in those days, the lords, that is the princes of Wales agreed to pay Edgar an annual tribute.


whare none

Kua tūtakina te whare none i Tūranga nei, kua hokona te whare me te whenua, ko ngā none kua hoki anō ki te kākahu o te ao.

The nunnery here in Gisborne has closed and the land and building have been sold, the nuns have returned to worldly garments


whare pūrākau

Ka tōna riteka o te whare pūrākau, hei whakaako i kā tamariki rakatira kia mātau ki te taki tāhū, ki te karakia mō ruka i kā taumata whakaariki, karakia ruruku manawa mō te tūpāpaku ki te moe, ka hemo.

The purpose of the house of learning was to teach the chiefly children to know how to recite the direct lines of ancestry through the senior lines, to recite incantations to weaken approaching war-parties, and for restoring life to someone who is ill and has fallen unconscious.

school of learning where tohunga taught esoteric knowledge, rituals, karakia, history and creation narratives. A term used particularly by Ngāi Tahu for the whare wānanga.


whare tūpāpaku

Pau katoa taua pō e kimihia ana, nō te ata rawa kātahi ka kitea i roto i te whare tūpāpaku e takoto ana.

They searched for him all that night and finally, in the morning, he was found lying in the morgue.


ihumoana

Portuguese man-of-war
Portuguese man-of-war

Physalia physalis
Physalia physalis#Translingual

Portuguese man-of-war (Physalia physalis)


kōpī

From Proto-Polynesian *kava-pusi (compare with Samoan 'avapuhi plus Hawaiian ʻawapuhi and ʻōpuhi, “shampoo ginger, Zingiber zerumbet”) from Proto-Polynesian *kawa (thus doublet of kawa and kawakawa).

Zingiber officinale
Zingiber officinale#Translingual


pōwhiri

→ English: powhiri

From pō- + whiri (“to twist, to wave”), related to tāwhiri (“to wave, to fan”)


Hemeika

Jamaica (an island and country in the Caribbean)


rātaka

Te Rātaka a Tama Hūngoingoi


kikokiko

Ka pīrangi au te kikokiko pākeha

I crave the flesh of the Pakeha (white man)


emepaea

empire (political unit, having numerous or extensive territories)

empire (political unit ruled by an emperor)


mate pukupuku

mate (“sickness, disease”) + pukupuku (“swelling”).


raumati

Kei te whakaaro a Pāpā taihoa au ka toa ki te kauhoe, koia au i tohua ai kia uru i ia raumati.

2020, Jeff Kinney, translated by Hēni Jacob, Te Rātaka a Tama Hūngoingoi Ko Rodrick Kei Runga:

Dad's got this idea that I'm destined to be a great swimmer or something, so that's why he makes me join the team every summer.


kekeno

New Zealand fur seal
New Zealand fur seal

New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)


kumete

From Proto-Polynesian *kumete (“bowl, mortar”) (compare with Hawaiian ʻumeke, Tahitian ʻumete and Samoan 'umete)


kāhui

From Proto-Polynesian *kaa-pui (compare with Hawaiian ʻāhui (“bunch (of fruit like bananas)”)) from Proto-Polynesian from Proto-Oceanic *pui₁ (“bunch of fruit”) (compare with Hawaiian hui (“troupe, association, society, club”) and Tahitian hui (“group”) plus Hawaiian huihui (“cluster, collection, bunch”) and Tahitian huihui (“collection”)). Doublet of hui and huihui.


tāke

tax, a sum paid to the government for monetary transactions.


pahū

From Proto-Polynesian *pasu₁ (“drum”). Cognate with Tahitian pahu and Hawaiian pahu.


pahū

From Proto-Polynesian *pasuu. Cognate with Hawaiian pahū.


kupenga

From Proto-Oceanic *kupeŋa (compare with Hawaiian ʻupena, Tahitian ʻupeʻa, Samoan ʻupega).


pirikahu

Compound of piri (“to cling”) + kahu (“coat”) describing their wooly bodies.


tahā

From Proto-Oceanic *tapaya (“coconut or gourd container or bottle”).

inh

calabash, container using dried shell of bottle gourd fruit


mangeo

From Proto-Polynesian *maŋeho (compare with Hawaiian maneʻo and Tahitian maʻeo) from Proto-Oceanic *maŋeso.


pangakupu

Compound of panga (“puzzle”) + kupu (“word”).


puehu

Related to ehu, rehu and nehu. For sense of pollen, compare with Hawaiian ʻehu and Malay debu (i.e. in debunga from debu bunga “flower dust”) for similar semantic extension.


paretai

From pare (“defense, fortification”) + tai (“tide, sea”).


wakarere

waka + rere (“to fly”). Compare with Malay kapal terbang (“flying ship”)


kanohi

Related to Tongan kanoʻi mata (“eyeball”) ultimately from Proto-Oceanic *kanoŋ qi mata corresponding to kano i mata (“seed on [one's] eye”) – compare with Malay biji mata (“eyeball”, lit. “seed of the eye”) for similar semantic connections. Sense of face broadened from sense of sight itself from original sense of eye.


kākano

Partial reduplication of kano from Proto-Polynesian *kano (compare Hawaiian ʻano and ʻanoʻano, Tahitian ʻaʻano and Tongan kano), from Proto-Oceanic *kanon (“flesh; kernel”) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kan-ən from Proto-Austronesian *kaən-an (“food, cooked rice”) from Proto-Austronesian *kaən (“to eat”) (thus doublet of kai). Itself doublet of kakano distinct by vowel elongation.


kakano

Partial reduplication of kano (“variety”) from Proto-Polynesian *kano (compare Hawaiian ʻano and ʻanoʻano, Tahitian ʻaʻano and Tongan kano), from Proto-Oceanic *kanon (“flesh; kernel”) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kan-ən from Proto-Austronesian *kaən-an (“food, cooked rice”) from Proto-Austronesian *kaən (“to eat”) (thus doublet of kai).


kakano

Partial reduplication of kano (“seed”), same as above


kaokao

From Proto-Polynesian *kao-kao (“rib, flank”) (compare with Hawaiian ʻaoʻao (“side, page of a book”), Tahitian ʻaoʻao (“rib”), Samoan ʻaoʻao (“armpit”) and Tongan kaokao).

cog

side, flank (of the body, hills and mountains, canoes, etc.)


kitenga

From kite (“to see”) + -nga. Compare with Hawaiian ʻikena from ʻike.