On this page, you will find a glossary of common te reo Māori words.
Māori to English
Atua – Ancestor with continuing influence, God, deity
Hapū – Pregnant
Hauora – Wellbeing
Hīkoi – Walk or march
Hinengaro – Mind, consciousness, awareness
Hui – Gathering, meeting, assembly, seminar, conference
Iwi – Kinship group, tribe, nation, people, nationality
Kapa haka – Māori cultural performing group
Kuia – Elderly woman/women, grandmother
Kaimahi – Worker/s
Kaumātua – Elderly person or people
Kohanga reo – Māori language preschool
Kura kaupapa – Primary school operating under Māori custom and using Māori as the medium of instruction
Māmā – Mother, mum
Mana – Personal status/prestige
Manaakitanga – Hospitality, kindness, generosity, support
Māori – Native, indigenous, belonging to Aotearoa New Zealand
Mauri – Life force, life principle, vital essence
Mihi – Speech of greeting, acknowledgement, tribute
Pēpi/pēpē – Baby
Pēpi-Pod® – A portable safe sleep device
Rangatiratanga – Kingdom, realm, sovereignty, principality, self-determination, self-management
Rongoā – Remedy, medicine, drug, cure, medication, treatment
Taonga – Precious item or treasure
Tapu – Be sacred, set apart or under atua protection
Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty of Waitangi
Tinana – Body, physical being, real
Wairua – Spirit, soul
Wahakura – Woven flax bassinet (various designs)
Waikawa – Woven flax bassinet with a specific style and design
Waka – Vehicle, car
Waka ama – Outrigger canoe
Wānanga – Seminar, conference, forum, education seminar
Whānau – Extended family
Whanaungatanga – A relationship developed through shared experiences and working together that provides people with a sense of belonging.
Whare – Home, house
Wharenui – Meeting house, large house – main building of a marae where guests are accommodated
Whare tapa whā – A holistic health model of 5 parts: Taha hinengaro – health of the mind, consciousness, awareness; Taha wairua – health of the spirit, soul; Taha whānau – health of extended family, family group; Taha tinana – physical health.
Whānau Ora model – Whānau Ora puts whānau and families in control of the services they need to work together, build on their strengths and achieve their aspirations. It recognises the collective strength and capability of whānau to achieve better outcomes in areas such as health, education, housing, employment and income levels.
Whānaungatanga – Relationship, kinship, sense of family connection
Whenua – Land
Learn more
100 Māori words every New Zealander should know New Zealand History
Resources Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori/Māori Language Commission
Reference
- National SUDI Prevention Programme – needs assessment and care planning guide Ministry of Health, NZ, 2019
- Papakupu Māori/Māori Dictionary