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Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

pepeha

1. (verb) (-tia) to say, exclaim, be the subject of a saying (in the passive, i.e. pepehatia).

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 40;)

Ka tauria a Hikurangi e te huka ka pepehatia, 'Ka rukuruku a Te Rangitāwaea i ōna kākahu rīnena.' (RK 1994:168). / When Hikurangi mountain is covered by snow the saying is used about it, 'Te Rangitāwaea wears his linen cloak.'

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2. (noun) tribal saying, tribal motto, proverb (especially about a tribe), set form of words, formulaic expression, saying of the ancestors, figure of speech, motto, slogan - set sayings known for their economy of words and metaphor and encapsulating many Māori values and human characteristics.

Tētahi take nui i whakaaetia e tēnei hui, ko ngā mahi a ngā tūpuna o mua kei ngaro, kia tino mahia nuitia i ēnei rā: Ngā whakataukī, ngā waiata Māori, ngā pepeha, me ngā tikanga katoa o ngā mea, me ngā harihari, tūtū ngārahu, me ngā hari kai (TP 8/1909:11). / An important matter that was agreed to by the meeting was the activities of the ancestors of former times that these should be used widely today: The aphorisms, Māori songs, tribal sayings and the customary practices of everything, the songs to unite people in a common purpose, war dances and songs for presenting food.

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Synonyms: whakapepeha

whaikōrero

1. (verb) (-tia) to make a formal speech.

Mutu ana te tangi, kei runga ngā kaumātua, kei te whaikōrero ki te manuhiri (TP 4/1907:7). / As soon as the weeping ended the elders are up and making speeches to the guests.

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See also whai kī, whaikupu, whaikī

Synonyms: whaikī, whaikupu


2. (noun) oratory, oration, formal speech-making, address, speech - formal speeches usually made by men during a pohiri and other gatherings. Formal eloquent language using imagery, metaphor, whakataukī, pepeha, kupu whakaari, relevant whakapapa and references to tribal history is admired. The basic format for whaikōrero is: tauparapara (a type of karakia); mihi ki te whare tupuna (acknowledgement of the ancestral house); mihi ki a Papatūānuku (acknowledgement of Mother Earth); mihi ki te hunga mate (acknowledgement of the dead); mihi ki te hunga ora (acknowledgement of the living); te take o te hui (purpose of the meeting). Near the end of the speech a traditional waiata is usually sung.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 243-247;)

Nā Rēweti Kōhere te whaikōrero mō tēnei take, ā ko tēnei hoki te tino take i kōrerotia i tēnei hui (TP 3/1904:10). / Rēweti Kōhere spoke about this matter and this was the main topic discussed at this meeting.

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Synonyms: onetū, whaiwhaikōrero


3. (noun) oral evidence.

I tino kaha te tahuri o ngā Kaiwhakawā ki te whiriwhiri i ngā whaikōrero i tukuna ai ki te Kōti i ngā whakawā e rua (RT 2013:103). / The Judges set about vigorously discussing the oral evidence submitted to the Court in the two cases.

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whakatauākī

1. (verb) (-tia) to utter a proverb, utter a significant saying, utter a formulaic saying, utter an aphorism.

Ka whāia kia tomohia a Kahupeka ki te mokopuna a te koroua rā nā runga i tana ōhākī, engari kāore i tutuki ka whakatauākītia, ‘He tara whai ka uru ki roto, e kore e taea te whakahokia’ (Te Ara 2014). / Kahupeka was then sought for an arranged marriage with the elderly man's grandson, due to the elderly man's dying request, but this was not fulfilled with the saying, ‘A barb of a stingray, once inserted, cannot be withdrawn'.

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2. (noun) proverb, significant saying, formulaic saying, aphorism - particularly those urging a type of behaviour. Like whakataukī and pepeha they are essential ingredients in whaikōrero.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 39;)

Ko te nuinga o ngā whakatauākī nā te tangata whai mana i whakatakoto (Wh4 2004:39). / The majority of whakatauākī have been made by people of status.

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whakataukī

1. (verb) (-tia) to utter a proverb.

Ka whakataukī atu a Kiwi ki a Waha-akiaki, “Kia pēnei, tō kōuma āpōpō e iri ana i te pōhutukawa i Kai-arero.” (JPS 1923:234) / Kiwi uttered a proverb to Waha-akiaki, “It will be like this, tomorrow your breast-bone will be hanging on the pōhutukawa tree at Kai-arero.”

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2. (noun) proverb, significant saying, formulaic saying, cryptic saying, aphorism. Like whakatauākī and pepeha they are essential ingredients in whaikōrero.

(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 38-39;)

Tētahi take nui i whakaaetia e tēnei hui, ko ngā mahi a ngā tūpuna o mua kei ngaro, kia tino mahia nuitia i ēnei rā: Ngā whakataukī, ngā waiata Māori, ngā pepeha, me ngā tikanga katoa o ngā mea, me ngā harihari, tūtū ngārahu, me ngā hari kai (TP 8/1909:11). / An important matter that was agreed to by the meeting was the activities of the ancestors of former times that these should be used widely today: The aphorisms, Māori songs, tribal sayings and the customary practices of everything, the songs to unite people in a common purpose, war dances and songs for presenting food.

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