kawenga
1. (noun) load, pack, burden, luggage.
Heoi, ka noho nei te taniwha, ko tana mahi, he patu i ngā tira haere; arā, he kai i ngā tāngata, horopuku tonu, ahakoa he kawenga tā te tangata, ka horomia pukutia e taua taniwha (JPS 1905:200). / And so the taniwha remained there. His occupation was killing the travelling parties - that is, he used to swallow them whole, even if they had loads on their backs they were swallowed up by that taniwha.
Synonyms: wahanga, pīkaunga, puru, tueke, haringa, pāka, pīkau, pōrukuruku, pēke, whakawhāiti
2. (noun) obligation, liability.
I nāianei ki te whakaritea ngā kawenga a te ture i whakaae ai ki runga ki ō tātau whenua, kāore rawa e tata atu ki te taimaha o ngā kawenga kei runga i ngā whenua Pākehā. Ko ngā whenua papatipu kāore e eketia e te reiti (TTT 1/7/1922:8). / Currently, if the legal liabilities that are authorised on our lands are compared, the burden is nowhere near as heavy as it is on Pākehā properties. Māori land held under customary title is not subject to rates.
Synonyms: taumahatanga, takohanga, kawenga taumaha, utanga, here, herenga, tāpae toto
kawenga taumaha
1. (noun) heavy burden, encumbrance, obligation.
Tokorua tahi rāua e waha ana i te kawenga taumaha (TTR 1994:176). / Two people together carrying a heavy burden.
Ko Tā Āpirana Ngata: E tika ana kia kaha te tūpato ki ngā moni e whakapaua ana ki te taha Māori kei tahuri mai hei kawenga taumaha ki te Māori (TTT 1/11/1930). / Sir Āpirana Ngata: It's right to be very cautious with the funds being used for Māori affairs lest they become a burden for Māori.
Synonyms: kawenga, takohanga, taumahatanga, utanga, here, herenga, tāpae toto
