Language Log

In 1987, Te Reo, the Māori language, became an official language of New Zealand. In all of the museums I visited, a Te Reo version of text is always included alongside the English version, and Te Reo is widely known and used in other settings. Not many Kiwis are fluent in Te Reo (Only about 3% of the total population), but most Kiwis know at least some words. Below I have compiled a list of Maori words, phrases, and quotes that I found to be the most interesting.

1. Kia Ora

A general greeting which literally means be well or be healthy. Can be said as a hello or goodbye. Even though the phrase consists of two words, Kiwis generally smash the words together, making it sound more like, kee-orah. Like all words in Te Reo, you roll the 'r' in 'ora'.

2, Ko au te awa, Ko te awa ko au - I am the river and the river is me

Ko au te maunga, ko te maunga ko au – I am the mountain and the mountain is me

These sayings emphasize the connection between Māori people and the natural environment. A Māori worldview recognizes that humans and nature came from the same sky father and earth mother. As such, they have a responsibility to care for the land, and in doing so, they care for themselves. Our lecturer noted that this phrase has often been used during environmental protests or demonstrations. Many "Western” cultures focus on controlling or mastering the environment while the Māori perspective says that humans and the earth/nature are one and the same.

3. Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka

The kumara (sweet potato) does not say how sweet he is

This proverb came up during a talk about rangatiras or leaders. Our lecturer mentioned that in the Māori world, good leaders must be humble. This saying means exactly that. A good leader must be confident in their greatness but not feel the urge to brag about it. In the Māori world, rangatiras must adhere to the highest of standards because they can be replaced if another worthy leader comes along.

4. Mana

As with many Māori words, there is no literal translation of mana into English. But the way it was described in my Māori studies course is, "the lawful permission delegated by the gods to their human agents and accompanied by the endowment of spiritual power to act on their behalf in accordance with their revealed will." Essentially, this boils down to two parts: power and authority but both are linked to spirituality. Mana can be inherited from your family but can also be earned through "good deeds" or serving one's community. Mana can only be held by Māori because it is a Māori value/concept.

5. Mauri

The ability to support and sustain life that exists within all living things. Mauri can exist in inanimate objects too, like rivers, oceans, and forests. Mauri also exists in the pounamu or greenstone pedants that many Māori wear.

6. Whakapapa

Often translated as simply "genealogy," whakapapa means much more than that. A literal translation would be "to build layers," but the word really refers to making connections, links, or networks of relationships and information. The word can also refer to Māori creation stories which explain the creation of the universe and how humans are related to the world around them. A common thing my Māori lecturers say is, "I whakapapa back to....", which really means they relate to/ have a relationship with a person or place.

7. I riro whenua atu, me hoki whenua mai

It was land that was taken, it is land that should be returned

European settlers stole and confiscated Māori land during the colonial era and continue to do so today. Through treaty settlements, Māori can submit claims and receive some money for the land that was stolen from them, but typical settlements are usually worth only 1-2% of the value of the land and resources that were taken. But many Māori see all treaty settlements as complete rubbish. If the Crown really wanted to right historical injustices, they would simply give the land back. Māori have a particularly strong bond with their land as their ancestors are buried there and the land is the source of mana. Many Māori see exchanging land for money as inappropriate. As one of my lecturers put it, "To Māori, the land they live on is their mother. So selling land, creating a commodity out of it, is like selling your mother. It is a completely unthinkable thing to do."

8. Whānau

The closest translation is extended family. This family includes your uncles, aunties, grandparents, parents, siblings and more. Though whanau is based in whakapapa, your whanau can include anyone who you are very close to.

9. Hawaiki

A general term for the spiritual home of many Maori people. Not a physical geographical place/ Where most people believe ancestors came from and where you return to when you die. There are multiple Hawaiki and this term does not refer to a specific island, but most cultures in the Pacific islands have a version of Hawaiki. In fact, Tonga is the only island in the pacific that does not refer to Hawaiki and is often thought of as the original island because of this. The Māori people left Hawaiki not because of an external force like a natural disaster or famine. It was an internal, most likely social issue.

10. Pepeha

A formulaic exclamation of identity used to build relationships. Within a pepeha, one locates themselves according to rohe, major geographical features, and genealogy. Usually, one starts with major features like mountains and rivers, then becomes more specific and states their whanau, hapu and iwi. Traditionally, Māori people would say their pepeha when meeting a new person for the first time as a way of establishing whakapapa or connections. Pepeha is a great example of how Maori people are so close with their natural environment.

11. Mana Whenua

Power of the earth to support life. Exists in Māori bound to a certain location/rohe and pakeha and non maori people cannot possess mana whenua. Mana whenua gives a tribe or person the right to use the land's resources but also gives them the responsibility of protecting, conserving, and caring for the land. Mana Whenua can be enhanced by burying placenta/umbilical cord in the earth (the word for placenta in Māori is the same as the word for land) and also by burying the dead.

12. Rahui

A temporary restriction that is placed over a location, resource or food gathering site due to overuse, contamination or other reasons. Rahui are put in place so that the life force, or mauri, of a thing can be restored. A great example of this is the current rahui put in place over one of the forests near Auckland. A disease spread through contaminated soil is threatening the native Kauri tree. The rahui is aimed at stopping the spread of the disease and allowing the forest to heal itself.

13. Whanaungatanga

The way everyone in a community is related genealogically which defines the identity of Maori people. Refers to the way these relationships are maintained through specific customs and cultural values. For example, all people in your age group can be classified as either tuakana (older siblings) and teina (younger siblings). Tuakana are meant to lead and protect teina, while teina are meant to support tuakana and teach them patience and humility. Other important words include Matua or Whaea which are words to describe people in the generation above you and Koro or Kuia which describe elders. By calling each other by these names, Māori people show respect.

14. Rangatira

A person of mana that derives power from genealogical connections, from their own qualities and skills, and their ability to maintain the support of their people. When translated literally, the word means "to hold people together."

15. Kiwi

A bird, a fruit, and now a person. The bird name came first and is the native Māori word for the bird. In an effort to sell more gooseberries, they were rebranded as kiwi fruit. New Zealanders call themselves kiwis, too, because of the very special bird. Here's an article about all these kiwis:

https://time.com/4662293/kiwifruit-chinese-gooseberry-new-zealand-history-fruit/

16. Haka

Though the haka is probably most well known for being the war cry of the New Zealand National Rugby team, the All Blacks, the haka is a type of postural dance that can be performed at any occasion. In my Māori culture class, we watched hakas being performed at funerals, birthdays, sporting events, protests, and anything in between. Haka isn't about violence or going to war, it is about passion and intense emotion, so it can be performed anywhere.

17. Naumai Haere Mai

Meaning welcome, come on in, etc.

18. Ka Pai

All good. Usually my Māori 130 professor phrased this in the form of a question, "Ka pai?" asking if it was okay to move on to a new topic.

19. Tena Koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all. I never understood why my lecturers said this phrase three times, but now I understand that its a more formal way of welcoming a group of three or more people.

20. Whakangarongaro te tangata, te whenua

Man passes, but the land endures

I saw this quote in a lot of the national park visitor centers and elsewhere. Emphasizes the longevity of the land and its ability to adapt. To me though, this means that people are only on earth temporarily and the land will continue on after we leave. Therefore it is our responsibility to take care of the land and beautiful outdoor spaces so future generations can enjoy them too.

Some Other Kiwi Slang

Bach - Small little houses, usually vacation homes found throughout NZ. My first encouter with them was on Rangitoto where there is a small Bach community.

Sweet As - Means great or awesome or sounds good. Sometimes kiwis adjust this phrase and replace sweet with other words i.e. "cool as", "keen as"

Chilly Bin - A cooler

Jandals - Flipflops or thongs

Togs - Swimsuit

Tramping - Hiking

Dairy - Cornerstore or convenience store

Gumboots - Rain boots

Heaps - a lot. Mainly interesting because kiwis use this word waaay more than americans do.

Keen - used to say that you are eager to or want to do something. Again this word is used in the US sometimes but it is used much more often in NZ.

Pram - stroller or pushchair

Wop wops - middle of nowhere