About The Māori Dictionary Project - Te Aka Māori Dictionary

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Sources and acknowledgements

The words, their meanings, the explanations and the example sentences in this dictionary have been gathered over a number of years from a wide variety of written and oral sources, including Māori television programmes. However, the books listed below have been particularly valuable and the author wishes to acknowledge these in particular as major sources of information for this dictionary. Some of these will provide you with further valuable reference sources for the meanings of Māori vocabulary and idioms, and for the identification of people, place names and species not included in Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index.

For the vocabulary, grammatical explanations, word definitions, idioms and colloquial expressions the author wishes to acknowledge the following major sources:

Bauer, W. 1997. The Reed Reference Grammar of Māori. Auckland: Reed Books.
Benton, R., A. Frame & P. Meredith. 2013. Te Mātāpunenga. A Compendium of References to the Concepts and Institutions of Māori Customary Law. Wellington: Victoria University Press.
Biggs, Bruce. 1998. Let’s Learn Maori: A Guide to the Study of the Maori Language. Auckland: Auckland University Press.
Deverson, T. & G. Kennedy (eds.). 2005. The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Mead, H.M. & N. Grove. 2001. Ngā Pēpeha a ngā Tīpuna. Wellington: Victoria University Press.
Harlow, Ray. 2001. A Māori Reference Grammar. Auckland: Pearson Education New Zealand Limited.
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2009. Te Reo Putaiao. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga.
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2010. Te Reo Pāngarau. Putanga Tuarua. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga me He Kupenga Hao i te Reo.
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2014. Te Reo o Ngā Toi Ataata. He Tauira Papakupu. Papaioea: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga me He Kupenga Hao i te Reo.
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2015. Te Reo o Ngā Toi Puoro. He Tauira Papakupu. Papaioea: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga me He Kupenga Hao i te Reo.
Ngata, H. M. 1993. English-Maori Dictionary. Wellington: Learning Media.
Stephens, Māmari & Mary Boyce. 2013. He Papakupu Reo Ture A Dictionary of Māori Legal Terms. Wellington: LexisNexis NZ Ltd.
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 1996. Te Matatiki: Contemporary Māori Words. Auckland: Oxford University Press.
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 1999. He Kohinga Kīwaha. Auckland: Reed.
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 2008. He Pātaka Kupu: Te Kai a te Rangatira. Auckland: Raupo.
Williams, H.W. 1971. A Dictionary of the Māori Language. Wellington: Government Printer.

For the brief descriptions of the flora and fauna the following have been the main sources and are acknowledged:

Crowe, Andrew. 2001. Which Native Tree? Auckland: Penguin Books.
Crowe, Andrew. 2001. Which Native Fern? Auckland: Penguin Books.
Crowe, Andrew. 2002. Which New Zealand Insect? Auckland: Penguin Books.
Crowe, Andrew. 2003. Which Coastal Plant? Auckland: Penguin Books.
Crowe, Andrew. 2003. Which Native Forest Plant? Auckland: Penguin Books.
Crowe, Andrew. 2004. A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Auckland: Penguin Books.
Dawson, John & Rob Lucus. 2011. New Zealand’s Native Trees. Nelson: Craig Potton.
Eagle, Audrey. 2006. Eagle's Complete Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand. Wellington: Te Papa Press.
Heather, B.D. 2000. The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland: Viking.
Salmon, J.T. 1980. The Native Trees of New Zealand. Auckland: Heinemann Reed.
Scofield, Paul & Brent Stephenson. 2013. Birds of New Zealand. A Photographic Guide. Auckland: Auckland University Press.

Information for many of the important Māori men and women has been gleaned from the following. The author acknowledges these.

Orange, C. (ed.). 1990. Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau 1769-1869. Wellington: Allen & Unwin and Te Tari Taiwhenua.
Orange, C. (ed.). 1994. Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau 1870-1900. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books and Te Tari Taiwhenua.
Orange, C. (ed.). 1996. Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau 1901-1920. Wellington: Auckland University Press and Te Tari Taiwhenua.
Orange, C. (ed.). 1998. Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau 1921-1941. Wellington: Auckland University Press and Te Tari Taiwhenua.
Orange, C. (ed.). 2000. Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau 1941-1961. Wellington: Auckland University Press and Te Tari Taiwhenua.

Example sentences

Example sentences have been included for most separate meanings and parts of speech so that the word can be seen in context. The translations are to help with understanding. Unless referenced otherwise, these translations are by the author, except in the case of example sentences taken from the Māori Bible, where all the translations are from the King James Version. Learners will be able to improve their understanding and fluency by studying these example sentences carefully.

In selecting an example sentence the following criteria have been considered, in approximate order of importance:

The sentence selected reflects good quality language with correct usage.
As much as possible the sentence provides clarity in the meaning of the word(s) in question.
The sentence adds further information about the meaning of the word that may not be contained in the English gloss. For cultural concepts, the sentence may include further information about that concept or cultural practice.
The sentence relates to an important event in history.
Someone known for his or her knowledge of Māori culture, language and/or history may have written the sentence.
The sentence is from a publication well regarded for the quality of the language used, e.g. the five volumes of Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau listed above, or the four volumes of Ngā Mōteatea by Ngāta & Jones (see M below).

Finding suitable example sentences was greatly assisted by being able to search digital online texts. In particular, the author wishes to thank Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori for providing access to their digital corpus of texts, Te Mātāpuna.

The sources of the example sentences are listed below with the abbreviations used in this dictionary and the online version.

Māori-language newspapers

AO
Aotearoa (1892)
HKW
He Kupu Whakamarama (1898)
HTK
Huia Tangata Kotahi (1893-5)
KA
Ko Aotearoa or the Maori Recorder (1861-2)
KO
Te Korimako (1882-1890)
KTP
Ko te Panui o Aotearoa (1894-6)
Ma
He Maramatakahaere (1841-89)
MM
The Maori Messenger. Ko te Karere Maori (1849-54)
MM.TKM
The Maori Messenger. Te Karere Maori (1855-61)
NH
Nga Hua o te Mohiotanga ma nga Tangata Maori (1874)
NHW
Nga Hiiringa i te Whitu (1896)
TA
Takitimu (1883)
TH
Te Haeata (1859-61)
THM
Te Hoa Maori (1885-97? 1910?)
THNT
Te Hokioi o Niu Tireni e Rere atu na (1863)
TJ
The Jubilee. Te Tiupiri (1898-1900)
TK
Ko te Karere o Nui Tireni (1842-6)
TKH
Te Korimako Hou (1889-90)
TKM
The Maori Messenger. Ko te Karere Maori (1849-54)
TKM.MM
Te Karere Maori or Maori Messenger (1861-3)
TKO
Te Kopara (1913-21)
TKP
Te Karere o Poneke (1857-8)
TM
Te Matariki (1881)
TMA
Te Matuhi (1903-06)
TMK
Te Mareikura (1911-13)
TMP
Te Paki o Matariki (1892-1935?)
TMR
The Maori Record (1904-07)
TMT
Te Manuhiri Tuarangi and Maori Intelligencer (1861)
TMU
Te Manukura (1916-23)
TP
Te Pipiwharauroa (1899-1913)
TPH
Te Puke ki Hikurangi (1897-1913)
TPM
Te Pihoihoi Mokemoke i runga i te Tuanui (1863)
TRA
Te Reo o Aotearoa (1932-3)
TTT
Te Toa Takitini (1921-32)
TW
Te Wananga (1874-8)
TWM
Te Waka Maori o Ahuriri (1863-71)
TWMA
Te Waka Maori o Aotearoa (1884)
TWMNT
Te Waka Maori o Niu Tirani (1871-9)

Other sources with abbreviations

B
Broughton, R. 1979. Ko Ngā Paiaka o Ngā Rauru Kītahi. MA thesis, Victoria University of Wellington.
BFM
Benton, R., A. Frame & P. Meredith. 2013. Te Mātāpunenga. A Compendium of References to the Concepts and Institutions of Māori Customary Law. Wellington: Victoria University Press.
Biggs
Biggs, B. 1997. He Whiriwhiringa: Selected Readings in Maori. Auckland: Auckland University Press.
CS
Ministry of Justice. 2013. Ina mate ohorere te tangata. He aratohu ki ngā ratonga tirotiro mate whawhati. Ministry of Justice, Coronial Services.
DNZB
Orange, C. (ed.). Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Auckland: Auckland University Press & Department of Internal Affairs. Volume 1 1990, Volume 2 1993, Volume 3 1996, Volume 4 1998, Volume 5 2000.
EM
Phillis, Te O. 2002. Eruera Mānuera. Te Whanganui-a-Tara: Huia.
F
Fraser, G (2019). Te Tautoko i Te Hunga Āniwaniwa o Aotearoa: He Puka Whaitake mā Ngā Mātanga Hauora Hinengaro. Pōneke: Youth Wellbeing Study me RainbowYOUTH
G
Grey, G. 1853. Ko nga Moteatea me nga Hakirara o nga Maori. Wellington: Robert Stokes.
H
Kāretu, T.S. (ed.) 1992. Te Hīnātore. Kirikiriroa: Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Ha
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. 1999. Hangarau i roto i te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Te Whanganui ā Tara: Te Pou Taki Kōrero.
HKK
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 1999. He Kohinga Kīwaha. Tāmaki-makau-rau: Reed
HKKT
Papa, Pānia & Rāhui Papa. 2011. He Kohinga Kīwaha nō Tainui. Aotearoa: Takatū.
HM
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. He Muka.
HP
Pōtatau, Hēmi. 1991. He Hokinga Mahara. Tāmaki-makau-rau: Longman Paul.
HS
Sadler, Hone. 2014. Ko Tautoro, Te Pito o Tōku Ao. A Ngāpuhi Narrative. Auckland: Auckland University Press.
HW
Waititi, H.R. 1968. Te Rangatahi 1. Wellington: Government Printer.
HW
Waititi, H.R. 1969. Te Rangatahi 2. Wellington: Government Printer.
HWM
Mahupuku, Hikawera Wiremu. (n.d.) Whakapapa Tupuna. Unpublished manuscript.
Inoi
Te Komiti mo te Whakapuaki i te Mohiotanga kit e Karaiti. 1951.Te Pukapuka o Nga Inoi me era atu Tikanga a te Hahi o Ingarani. Ranana: Te Komiti mo te Whakapuaki it e Mohiotanga kit e Karaiti.
JM
Martin, Jennifer. 20013. ‘He kura-hāpainga, he kura-waka, he kura-kōrero, he kura-huna, He Kura-Kura.’ AUT University: PhD thesis
JPS
Journal of the Polynesian Society. 1892-2010
K
Kāretu, T. 1993. Haka The Dance of a Noble People. Auckland: Reed.
Kāretu
Kāretu, T.S. 2009. ‘Tā te ipoipo.’ He Papa Huia presentation, AUT University, 17 November 2009.
Kāretu
Kāretu, T.S. 2010. ‘Ngā waiata whakangahau a te hunga mate.’ Unpublished paper.
KR
Ka‘ai-Mahuta, R., Ka‘ai, T. & Moorfield, J. (eds.) 2013. Kia Rōnaki: The Māori Performing Arts. Auckland: Pearson.
M
Ngata, A.T. & Pei Te Hurinui Jones. Ngā Mōteatea The Songs. Third edition. Auckland: Auckland University Press Part 1: 2004, Part 2: 2005, Part 3: 2006, Part 4: 2007.
MT
Tau, Te Maire. 2011. I Whānau Au Ki Kaiapoi. The Story of Natanahira Waruwarutu as recorded by Thomas Green. Dunedin: Otago University Press.
NM
Sir George Grey. 1928. Nga Mahi a nga Tupuna. Third edition. New Plymouth: Thomas Avery & Sons.
N
Pohatu, Nepia. 1930. Memoir Supplement. Te Wānanga. Vol. 1, No. 2. pp.141-260.
Ng
Ngata, Hōri M. 1993. English-Maori Dictionary. Wellington: Learning Media.
NIT
Pei Te Hurinui. 1995. Ngā Iwi o Tainui. Auckland:Auckland University Press.
NP
H.M. Mead & N. Grove. 2001. Ngā Pēpeha a ngā Tīpuna. Wellington: Victoria University Press.
NToI
Gore Browne, T. 1858. Ko Nga Ture o Ingarani. Ākarana: Te Kawana o Niu Tirani.
NW
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 1991. Ngā Whatiwhatinga. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.ache
NWH
Kāretu, T.S. 1978. Ngā Waiata me ngā Haka a Tāua a te Māori. Hamilton: Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato.
Pa
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. 1996. Pāngarau i roto i te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Te Whanganui ā Tara: Te Pou Taki Kōrero.
Pēhi
Best, E. 1942. Forest Lore of the Maori. Wellington: Polynesian Society.
PK
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 2008. He Pātaka Kupu: Te Kai a te Rangatira. North Shore: Raupo.
Popi
Pope, James. 1887. Te Pukapuka Kura Maori. Poneke: Kaita a te Kawanatanga.
Popi
Pope, James. 1896. Te Ora mo te Maori. Poneke: Kaita a te Kawanatanga.
PT
The Bible Society in New Zealand. 1952. Ko Te Paipera Tapu. Wellington: The Bible Society in New Zealand.
Pu
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. 1996. Pūtaiao i roto i te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Te Whanganui ā Tara: Te Pou Taki Kōrero.
Rātaka
Kinney, J. (2019). Te Rātaka a Tama Hūngoingoi [Diary of a Wimpy Kid] (H. Jacob. Transl.). United States: Puffin.
Rewi
Rewi, P. 2005. Te Ao o te Whaikorero. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Otago.
RK
Kaa, Te Ohorere & Wiremu. 1994. Nga Kōrero a Reweti Kohere Mā. Wellingtom: Victoria University Press.
RM
Maunsell, R. 1894. Grammar of the New Zealand Language. Fourth edition, Auckland: Upton & Co.
RP
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2009. Te Reo Putaiao. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga.
RR
Karetu, T.S. 1974. Te Reo Rangatira. Wellington: Government Printer.
RT
Stephens, Māmari & Mary Boyce. 2013. He Papakupu Reo Ture A Dictionary of Māori Legal Terms. Wellington: LexisNexis NZ Ltd.
RTA
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2014. Te Reo o Ngā Toi Ataata. He Tauira Papakupu. Papaioea: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga me He Kupenga Hao i te Reo.
RTP
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2015. Te Reo o Ngā Toi Puoro. He Tauira Papakupu. Papaioea: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga me He Kupenga Hao i te Reo.
Ruānuku
Coelho, P. (2020). Te Ruānuku [The Alchemist] (H. Kelly. Transl.). New York: Harper Collins.
S
Stowell, H.M. (Hare Hongi). 1911. Maori-English Tutor and Vade Mecum. Christchurch, Wellington & Dunedin: Whitcombe & Tombs.
T
Mitchell, J.H. 1944. Takitimu. Wellington: Reed.
TAH
Te Ao Hou. Numbers 1-76.
Tione
Lynette Townsend. 'Rupe, Carmen Tione', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (T. H. Mason, Transl.) , first published in 2018. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/biographies/6r6/rupe-carmen-tione (accessed 12 February 2021)
TKI
Ministry of Education. Te Kete Ipurangi.
To
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. 1999. Ngā Toi. Te Tauākī Marautanga He Tauira.Te Whanganui ā Tara: Te Pou Taki Kōrero.
Toi
Melbourne, H. 1991. Toiapiapi: he huinga o ngā kura pūoro a te Māori. Te Whanganui a Tara:Titi Tuhiwai.
Tr
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute.
TRM
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga. 1996. Te Reo Māori i roto i Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Whananui ā Tara: Te Pou Taki Kōrero.
TRP
He Kupenga Hao i te Reo. 2010. Te Reo Pāngarau. Putanga Tuarua. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Te Tāhuhu o Te Mātauranga me He Kupenga Hao i te Reo.
TT
Tikao, TT & H. Beattie. 1990. Tikao Talks: Ka Taoka Tapu o Te Ao Kohatu. Treasures from the Ancient World of the Maori. Auckland: Penguin books.
TTR
Orange, C. (ed.). 1990-2000. Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau. Auckland University Press & Te Tari Taiwhenua Volume 1 1990, Volume 2 1994, Volume 3 1996, Volume 4 1998, Volume 5 2000.
TTTT
Walker, Piripi & Huriana Raven (eds) 2006. Te Tū a Te Toka: He Ieretanga nō ngā Tai e Whā. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Toi Māori Aotearoa.
TTW
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. 2004. Tauākī Whakamaunga Atu 04-08. Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara: Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.
TWK
Te Wharekura. Wellington: Learning Media. Numbers 1-61
W
Williams, William. 1852. Dictionary of the New Zealand Language. Second edition. London: Williams and Norgate.
W
Williams, Herbert W. 1971. Dictionary of the Maori Language. Seventh edition. Wellington: GP Publications.
Wh3
Moorfield, J.C. 2003. Te Whanake 3 Te Māhuri. Auckland: Pearson Education New Zealand.
Wh4
Moorfield, J.C. 2004. Te Whanake 4 Te Kōhure. Auckland: Pearson Education New Zealand.
White 1
White, J. 1887. Ancient History of the Maori. Vol. I. Wellington: Government Printer.
White 2
White, J. 1889. Ancient History of the Maori. Vol. II. Wellington: Government Printer.
White 3
White, J. 1889. Ancient History of the Maori. Vol. III. Wellington: Government Printer.
White 4
White, J. 1889. Ancient History of the Maori. Vol. IV. Wellington: Government Printer.
White 5
White, J. 1888. Ancient History of the Maori. Vol. V. Wellington: Government Printer.
White 6
White, J. 1890. Ancient History of the Maori. Vol. VI. Wellington: Government Printer.
WT
Tāwhai, Wiremu. 2013. Living by the Moon. Te Maramataka a Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. Wellington: Huia.
WW
Smith, S.P. 1913. Lore of the Whare-wānanga. Part 1 – Te Kauwae-runga. New Plymouth: Polynesian Society
WW
Smith, S.P. 1915. Lore of the Whare-wānanga. Part 2 – Te Kauwae-raro. New Plymouth: Polynesian Society

Websites

Ipukarea
http://teipukarea.maori.nz

NZH
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/browse/people/atoz

Te Ara
http://www.teara.govt.nz

Te Kāea
http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/te-kaea

Referencing of example sentences

Where example sentences have been taken from the sources listed above, the sources are provided in parentheses at the end of the example. The book or newspaper title is given in the abbreviated form (listed above), followed by the date of the publication and the page number, which is preceded by a colon, e.g. (TWMNT 28/5/1873:60). With Te Ao Hou and Te Wharekura, the number of issue is given instead of the date, e.g. (TAH 58:9) and He Muka references provide the issue number before the year and page number, e.g. (HM 4/2009:3). For website references the year the website was accessed for the example sentence is provided, e.g. (Te Ara 2015). For personal communication the person's name and the year is provided, e.g. (Kāretu 2011).

Sources of audio recordings

In November 2015, we began recording and loading the audio for each headword of the dictionary so that learners can hear the correct pronunciation. It is fortunate that two of the most fluent speakers of Māori, Te Wharehuia Milroy and Te Haumihiata Mason, agreed to the request to do this recording. Tēnā rawa atu kōrua.

The recordings of the native birds and animals were provided by McPherson Natural History Unit and Viking Seven Seas Ltd. These were provided at no cost. This generosity is acknowledged with thanks.