Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

waka

1. (noun) canoe, vehicle, conveyance, spirit medium, medium (of an atua).

Ko ngā tiriti o tērā tāone kapi tonu i ngā tū āhua waka o te Pākehā, mai i te hōiho kawekawe mīti a te pūtia tae noa ki ngā tū āhua katoa o te taramukā (TP 10/1909:3). / The streets of that town are full of all sorts of vehicles of the Pākehā, from the horse carrying the butcher’s meat to all sorts of tramcars.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: matataketake, wawaenga, kauwaka


2. long narrow receptacle, box (for feathers).

Ka tata ki te rau tau mai ki 1900, ka tahuri a Ānaha ki te whakairo taonga itiiti nei, hei hokohoko ki ngā Pākehā. He ipu, he kumete, he waka huia, he paipa hei kai tōrori, he pouaka māti, me ētehi taonga hei whakaahua i ngā mea o te ao tawhito (TTR 1990:262). / Around the turn of the century Anaha was involved in the production of smaller carvings for sale to Europeans. These were containers, bowls, carved jewellery boxes, tobacco pipes, tinder boxes and replicas of traditional artefacts.

Show example

Hide example

See also waka huia


3. (noun) water trough.

Ka whakakīia te waka ki te wai, ka haramai ngā kererū ki te inu. Ka whakairia he tāhere ki ngā taha o te waka, kia tau mai he manu ki te inu kua mau (Te Ara 2013). / The trough was filled with water, and kererū would come to drink. Snares were set on either side of the trough, and when the birds landed to drink they were caught.

Show example

Hide example


4. (noun) allied kinship groups descended from the crew of a canoe which migrated to New Zealand and occupying a set territory.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 48; Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 27-31; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 210-219;)

Ko te waiata katoa nei, e whakaatu ana i te reo tohunga o ngā iwi o Tainui waka (M 2006:186). / The whole of this song reflects the priestly language of the tribes of the Tainui canoe area.

Show example

Hide example


5. (noun) crew of a canoe.

I te ata e rotua ana e Rua te waka rā kia moe tonu (NM 1928:65). / In the morning Rua put a spell on the crew of that canoe so that they continued sleeping.

Show example

Hide example


6. (noun) flock, flight (of birds).

He waka kuaka (W 1971:478). / A flock of bar-tailed godwits

Show example

Hide example

Te Kākano 3rd Edition

New edition of the leading Māori-language textbook out now.

More info

The App

Te Aka Māori Dictionary is also available as an iOS and Android app. Download below.

iOS Android

The Book

Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index by John C Moorfield comprises a selection of modern and everyday language that will be extremely useful for learners of the Māori language.

More info

He Pātaka Kupu

Te kai a te rangatira

He Pātaka Kupu is a monolingual Māori language dictionary, and was designed using its own culturally authentic terms.

Visit website

00:00