Glossary of Māori words and phrases

āmene
amen
Aotearoa
New Zealand – literally – Long white cloud. It was first used to refer just to the North Island.
aroha
love
hāngī
traditional feast prepared in earth oven
haka
war dance with actions
hīkoi
walk
hongi
pressing noses as a greeting
hui
gathering, meeting
iwi
tribe
kai
food
kapahaka
Māori performance art
karakia kai
grace
kaumātua
elder
kia ora
hello, thank you
kina
sea urchin
kōrero
talk
koru
the spiral shape of an unfurling silver fern frond
kuhu mai
come in
kūmara
sweet potato
manuhiri
visitor(s)
moko
tattoo
pākehā
New Zealander of European origin
parāone
brown
pōwhiri
welcome
pounamu
New Zealand greenstone
tane
man
tangata whenua
people of the land, the host people
tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
I greet you all
Tētahi wahine ātaahua!
What a beautiful woman!
whaea
mother, aunt
whānau
family
whare kai
eating hall
Kaldi

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