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Idioms

Phrases

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Loan words

Historical loan words

tauwhaiwhai ā-kapa

1. (noun) individual team.

whare pōrukuruku

1. (noun) school of individual learning.

Ko te ‘whare maire’ hei kura ako i ngā mahi mākutu-whaiwhaiā, i ngā kōrero o nehe me ngā kōrero pūrākau matua, ko te ‘whare pōrukuruku’, hei ako takitahi i te tangata i tōna kotahi anake; ko te ‘whare kura,’ te kura ako o te ira tangata; me te ‘whare takiura’, he kura ako i te pō (Rewi 2005:31). / The 'whare maire' was a school teaching the art of witchcraft, the history and the superior oral narratives; the 'whare pōrukuruku' was for individual teaching; the 'whare kura' was the school teaching the human element; and the 'whare takiura', a school teaching at night.

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tūhāhā

1. (verb) to be standing alone, isolated, unique, separate, independent.

I tūhāhā ai taua kura nā te mea ehara nō te Tari Mātauranga te whenua, te wharekura me ngā kaiwhakaako (HM 2/1991:2). / That school was independent because the land, school and teachers did not belong to Education Department.

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Synonyms: nahenahe, kōwaewae, kōwae, tokorau, māhiti, roherohe, tauwehe, tauārai, tohi, toritori, momotu, motu, motuhake, wae, wehewehe, wehe, whakatāuke, whakawehewehe, tiriwā, īheuheu, tīwae, heu, ihi, tuakoi, wawae, whakawehe, kōwai, whakapirara, tāuke, tāwae, tāwaewae, totohi, tūtahi


2. (modifier) standing alone, isolated, unique, separately spaced.

I whakamārama mai a nehe mā i piki ētahi mā te toi huarewa ki te toi o ngā rangi, arā ki tō runga rawa o ngā rangi tūhāhā (TTT 1/8/1923:6). / The old men and women explained that some climbed via the suspended way to the uppermost heaven, that is the the highest of the separately spaced heavens.

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3. (noun) uniqueness, separateness, independence, individuality.

Nō whea te ingoa nei 'Kura Kaupapa Māori'? Ki taku mōhio nā Pita Sharples o te Marae o Hoani Waititi, i whakahua hei kupu whakamārama i te āhua me te tūhāhā o te Kura o Hoani Waititi nā rātou o te marae o Hoani Waititi i whakatū (HM 2/1991:2). / Where did the name 'Kura Kaupapa Māori' come from? I think it was given by Peter Sharples of the Hoani Waititi Marae when he used it as a term to explain the nature and uniqueness of the Hoani Waititi School established by the people of Hoani Waititi Marae.

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takitahi

1. (verb) single, individual.

Kāore a Te Rangitāke rātou ko te hunga whakahē ki te hoko i whakaae kia takitahi te tuku o ngā kerēme (TTR 1990:290). / Te Rangitāke and all those opposed to the sale did not agree that individual claims be made.

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Synonyms: kotahi, tapatahi, kōtahitahi, takakau, tahi, tōtahi


2. (modifier) singly, solo, individual.

Hau ana tōna rongo, ā, whāia haere tonutia ana ia hei kaiwaiata takitahi (TTR 1998:62). / Her reputation spread and she was continually sought after as a soloist.

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3. (noun) single person, single individual, singles.

Ko Ngāti Maniapoto anō tētahi i whakahē ki te wāwāhi o te whenua kia riro i te takitahi. / Ngāti Maniapoto was another tribe that opposed dividing up the land for individual title.

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tangata

1. (verb) (-tia) to be a person, man, human being, individual.

Kua tangata, kua wahine pakari ā-tinana, ā-wairua, ā-hinengaro (Rewi 2005:43). / It has become a man or woman that is mature in body, spirit and mind.
He maha ngā tau i muri mai, kua tangatatia te tamaiti nei (NIT 1995:209). / Many years later this child had become a man.

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Synonyms: tuatangata, , tāne, kōhī, kiri, tinana, tuakiri, tawhiti, whaiaro, kōiwi


2. (modifier) human, individual.

I whakanonoi tonu ia i tōna mana tangata ki āna wāhine punarua, ki a Matairena rāua ko Kararaina (TTR 1994:39). / He insisted on his individual right to have his two wives, Matairena, and Kararaina.

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3. (noun) person, man, human being, individual.

E kore pea te tangata e whakapono ki te kīia atu e 640 māero te tere o taua whetū i te hēkene kotahi (TP 1/6/1901:11). / A person would probably never believe it if it was said that the speed of that comet was 640 miles per second.

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tauwhaiwhai

1. (noun) (cycling) individual pursuit.


2. (noun) (game) tag.

utu

1. (verb) (-a,-ngia) to repay, pay, respond, avenge, reply, answer.

Utua ai au e rima herengi i te wiki (HP 1991:26). / I was paid five shillings per week.

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Synonyms: whakahokihoki, whakautu, paremata, whakaea, urupare, whakahoki, hoatu, pei, kātoitoi, ō


2. (modifier) repaying, paying, responding, avenging, replying.

I waiatatia ai e Matangi-hauroa te waiata nei ki a Te Whatanui e whai ana kia oho te iwi o Te Whatanui kia haere ki te rapu utu mō te parekura (M 2004:298). / This song was sung by Matangi-hauroa to Te Whatanui with the object of rousing Te Whatanui's people to go and seek revenge for the defeat.

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Synonyms: whakautu


3. (noun) revenge, vengeance, retaliation, payback, retribution, cost, price, wage, fee, payment, salary, reciprocity - an important concept concerned with the maintenance of balance and harmony in relationships between individuals and groups and order within Māori society, whether through gift exchange or as a result of hostilities between groups. It is closely linked to mana and includes reciprocation of kind deeds as well as revenge. While particular actions required a response, it was not necessary to apply utu immediately. The general principles that underlie utu are the obligations that exist between individuals and groups. If social relations are disturbed, utu is a means of restoring balance. Gift exchange, a major component of utu, created reciprocal obligations on the parties involved and established permanent and personal relationships. Traditionally utu between individuals and groups tended to escalate. Just as feasts were likely to increase in grandeur as an exchange relationship developed over time, so could reciprocal acts of vengeance intensify. Utu was not necessarily applied to the author of the affront, but affected the whole group. Thus utu could be gained through a victory over a group where only the most tenuous of links connected the source of the affront with the target of the utu. Any deleterious external influence could weaken the psychological state of the individual or group, but utu could reassert control over the influences and restore self-esteem and social standing. Suicide could even reassert control by demonstrating that one had control over one's fate, and was a way of gaining utu against a spouse or relative where direct retaliation was not possible. Such indirect utu often featured within kin groups.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 48;)

He mea peita anō hoki e ia, ā he utu tika tāna utu i tono ai mō āna mahi (TW 28/8/1875:170). / They were also painted by him and the price he asked was right for his work.

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See also utu ā-hāora

Synonyms: utu kaimahi, whakakaitoa, uto, rautupu, utu ā-tau, utunga, moni utu, paremata, homaitanga, hoatutanga, tauutuutu, ngakinga, whakarite, ngaki, rautipu


4. (noun) compensation, recompense, reparation.

Ka taea anō te whakarite tētahi utu mehemea kua pā tētahi tino mate ki ngā tāngata tika ki te whenua (RT 2013:99). / Compensation can be arranged if a serious problem has affected the people who have rights to the land.

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Synonyms: whakaea, paremata, moni whakaea

kotatea

1. (noun) red alcyonarian, Alcyonium aurantiacum - a colony of tiny white polyps studded on a bright orange-red horny mass. Attaches to large shells and grows in masses up to 150 mm high. Each individual animal has eight narrow tentacles.

toke pā

1. (noun) spiny tubeworm, Pomatoceros caeruleus - forms coral-like masses up tp 900 mm in diameter, Strong shelly individual tubes are irregular, prominently rodged and with a spiny projection overhanging the round aperture. Worms are 20-30 mm long and occupy the outer end of their tubes. Found in isolated tubes cemented to rocks and in colonies.

Matakahi maire

1. A wedge of maire (which was used to split timber: said of an individual or group who although small can overcome a great task or larger group.

Ahakoa he iti tō kāhui he matakahi maire tonu / all though your group is small it will accomplish great things.

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wairua

1. (noun) spirit, soul - spirit of a person which exists beyond death. It is the non-physical spirit, distinct from the body and the mauri. To some, the wairua resides in the heart or mind of someone while others believe it is part of the whole person and is not located at any particular part of the body. The wairua begins its existence when the eyes form in the foetus and is immortal. While alive a person's wairua can be affected by mākutu through karakia. Tohunga can damage wairua and also protect the wairua against harm. The wairua of a miscarriage or abortion can become a type of guardian for the family or may be used by tohunga for less beneficial purposes. Some believe that all animate and inanimate things have a whakapapa and a wairua. Some believe that atua Māori, or Io-matua-kore, can instill wairua into something. Tohunga, the agents of the atua, are able to activate or instil a wairua into something, such as a new wharenui, through karakia. During life, the wairua may leave the body for brief periods during dreams. The wairua has the power to warn the individual of impending danger through visions and dreams. On death the wairua becomes tapu. It is believed to remain with or near the body and speeches are addressed to the person and the wairua of that person encouraging it on its way to Te Pō. Eventually the wairua departs to join other wairua in Te Pō, the world of the departed spirits, or to Hawaiki, the ancestral homeland. The spirit travels to Te Reinga where it descends to Te Pō. Wairua of the dead that linger on earth are called kēhua. During kawe mate, or hari mate, hura kōhatu and other important occasions the wairua is summoned to return to the marae.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 221-228;)

Haere rā i a koe ka kōpikopiko atu ki Te Hono-i-wairua, ki te kāpunipunitanga o te wairua (TTR 1998:37). / We farewell you as you wend your way to the Gathering Place of Spirits, the meeting place of departed souls.
Te tinana, te hinengaro, me te wairua ēnei e toru, te mea nui o ēnei ko te wairua. Te tinana: he anga kau nō te wairua. Te hinengaro: he kaiwhakaatu ki te ao he pēnei nā te wairua kei roto i te tangata (TTT 1/12/1930:2215). / Of these three things, the body, the mind and the spirit, the most important is the spirit. The body is the vehicle for the spirit. The mind shows the world what the spirit of the person is like.

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2. (noun) attitude, quintessence, feel, mood, feeling, nature, essence, atmosphere.

Ko te wairua o te kōrero, kia Māori mai (HM 2/1994:10). / The feel of the language should be Māori.

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Synonyms: piropiro, tino, matū


3. (noun) bonfire moss, common cord-moss, Funaria hygrometrica - a moss that grows in profusion on moist, shady, and damp bare soil, especially on sites of old fires, and in plant pots in glasshouses and shadehouses. Found throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand.

mangō tuatini

1. (noun) white shark, white pointer, Carcharodon carcharias - a large heavy-bodied shark found in temperate and tropical waters. Eats a wide variety of fish and birds and attacks humans. Noted for its broadly triangular teeth with serrated edges. The largest of man-eating sharks, with the largest individuals known to reach 6 metres in length and 2,268 kilograms in weight. Large spindle-shaped body with pointed snout. Near-symetrical tail, large first dorsal and very small second dorsal fin. Grey above and white below with a sharp demarcation between the two colours.

See also mangō ururoa

mangō ururoa

1. (noun) white shark, white pointer shark, Carcharodon carcharias - a large heavy-bodied shark found in temperate and tropical waters. Eats a wide variety of fish and birds and attacks humans. Noted for its broadly triangular teeth with serrated edges. The largest of man-eating sharks, with the largest individuals known to reach 6 metres in length and 2,268 kilograms in weight. Large spindle-shaped body with pointed snout. Near-symetrical tail, large first dorsal and very small second dorsal fin. Grey above and white below with a sharp demarcation between the two colours.

mauri

1. (noun) life principle, life force, vital essence, special nature, a material symbol of a life principle, source of emotions - the essential quality and vitality of a being or entity. Also used for a physical object, individual, ecosystem or social group in which this essence is located.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 227-228;)

Nā, he mauri tō ngā pakake, he mauri tō ngā tāngata, he mauri tō ngā tuna, he mauri tō ngā manu, he mauri tō ngā ika, nā reira i mate ai ēnei mea katoa i te mākutu; ki te mākututia e te Māori ēnei mea, ka mate, ngaro tonu atu; ahakoa nui ēnei mea, ki te mākututia ka ngaro (BFM 2013:248-249). / Now, whales have a mauri, people have a mauri, eels have a mauri, birds have a mauri, fish have a mauri, therefore everything can be destroyed by mākutu; if the Māori bewitches these things, they will be destroyed and disappear, no matter how big these things are, if a spell is cast upon them they will disappear.
Takoto mai, e koro, kia tangihia koe e ō iwi. Auē! Ka mau te punga here o te waka nei. Ka ngaro koe, te kaihautū, te kākākura o roto i te pōkai, te puhi o Aotearoa, te kura whakahirahira o Te Waipounamu, te mauri o te whenua, te mauri o te tangata, haere! Haere rā! (TP 7/1906:9) / Lie in state, sir, to be wept over by your people. Oh, dear! The anchor of this canoe is taken. You are gone, the fugleman, the leader of the flock, the adored one of the North Island, the important treasure of the South Island, the life force of the land and the people. Depart! Farewell!

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See also pā whakawairua

Synonyms: mouri, ira

taki

1. one by one, each and all - when used with verbs it emphasises that the action applies to each individual or thing. Often used in commands. Sometimes written as a prefix to verbs.

Taki haere koutou! / Off you all go!
Kua takitū katoa ngā Pākehā ki runga ka whakatata atu mātau (TPH 31/5/1900:3). / The Pākehā had all stood up when we approached.

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See also taki-

Synonyms: kōtiri

te

1. (determiner) the (singular) - used when referring to a particular individual or thing.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 13-14, 44;)

Anei te ongaonga. / Here is the stinging nettle.

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2. (determiner) the - when referring to a whole class of things or people designated by the noun that follows.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 48; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 125;)

Kī tonu te wharenui i te tamariki. / The meeting house was full of children.

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3. (determiner) Mr, mister, sir - used before people's names to show respect. When used this way it begins with a capital letter.

(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 190-191;)

Kei Te Wharehuia, tēnei te mihi atu mō tō āwhina mai. / Wharehuia sir, thank you most sincerely for your help.

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Synonyms: Mita


4. (determiner) Used in front of another verb following a stative.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 58, 99-100;)

Kua oti i a au tāku pukapuka te tuhi. / I have finished writing my book.

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5. (determiner) Used in front of another verb following taea.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 75-76;)

Ka taea e ia tēnei waiata te whakamāori. / She will be able to interpret this song.

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6. (determiner) Used before the names for the days of the week.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 30;)

Ā te Rātapu mātou haere ai ki Poihākena. / We go to Sydney on Saturday.

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7. (determiner) Sometimes used before numbers with a following noun.

I tāwāhi a Pita mō te rima tau. / Peter was overseas for five years.

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8. (determiner) Used before ordinal numbers including those using tua-.

(Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 12;)

I piki a Tāne-nui-a-rangi ki te tuangahuru mā rua o ngā rangi. / Tāne-nui-a-rangi climbed to the twelfth realm.

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9. .

ururoa

1. (noun) white shark, white pointer, Carcharodon carcharias - a large, heavy-bodied shark found in temperate and tropical waters. Eats a wide variety of fish and birds and attacks humans. Noted for its broadly triangular teeth with serrated edges. The largest of man-eating sharks, with the largest individuals known to reach 6 metres in length and 2,268 kilograms in weight. Large spindle-shaped body with pointed snout. Near-symetrical tail, large first dorsal and very small second dorsal fin. Grey above and white below with a sharp demarcation between the two colours.

Kei mate ā-tarakihi koe, engari kia mate ā-ururoa (TP 5/1906:2). / You should not die like the tarakihi, but rather you should die like a shark. (A whakatauākī to exemplify courage.)

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See also mangō ururoa

Synonyms: mangō


2. (noun) purple sunset shell, Gari stangeri - a triangular-shaped bivalve mollusc common in sand, mud or gravel near low tide. Whitish outside shell striped with purple and inside bright purple.

See also kuwharu

Synonyms: wahawaha, kuharu, kuwharu

hanihani

1. (verb) (-hia,-a,-tia) to speak ill of, disparage.

Kāore ōku hiahia ki te hanihani ki te tangata (TPH 21/6/1898:3). / I have no wish to speak ill of the man.

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2. (modifier) disparaging, derogatory, contemptuous, insulting, scornful.

Ko te nuinga o ngā pātere he waiata tautitotito, i takea i ngā kōrero hanihani, i te kanga, i te kai-upoko, i te kōrero whakahī, i te taunu rānei (M 2004:xix). / The majority of the abusive songs are compositions originating from derogatory references, abuse, slander, sneering remarks or belittling comments.

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Synonyms: kanone, whakahāwea, hahani, tāwai


3. (noun) disparaging comments.

Nō tēnei tau ka hua ngā hanihani ki runga ki a koe (TWMNT 13/3/1877:69). / This year disparaging comments were made about you.

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4. (noun) song of scorn, song of personal abuse - a song defamatory of individuals.

He waiata whakaiti te hanihani, he takahi i te wairua, i te mana rānei o tētahi atu (RTP 2015:119). / A 'hanihani' is a belittling song that tramples on the spirit or mana of another person.

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karakia

1. (verb) (-tia) to recite ritual chants, say grace, pray, recite a prayer, chant.

Nā, ka mahia e ngā tohunga ka unuhia ngā rito kōrari, ka karakiatia kia mōhiotia ai, ka mate ka ora rānei (M 2005:280). / Now, the tohunga plucked the centre shoots of the flax, and recited incantations over them to ascertain whether the result would be defeat or victory.

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Synonyms: inoi


2. (noun) incantation, ritual chant, chant, intoned incantation, charm, spell - a set form of words to state or make effective a ritual activity. Karakia are recited rapidly using traditional language, symbols and structures. Traditionally correct delivery of the karakia was essential: mispronunciation, hesitation or omissions courted disaster. The two most important symbols referred to in karakia are of sticks and food, while the two key actions are of loosing and binding. Individual karakia tend to follow a pattern: the first section invokes and designates the atua, the second expresses a loosening of a binding, and the final section is the action, the ordering of what is required, or a short statement expressing the completion of the action. The images used in karakia are from traditional narratives. There were karakia for all aspects of life, including for the major rituals, i.e. for the child, canoe, kūmara, war party and the dead. Karakia for minor rituals and single karakia include those for the weather, sickness, daily activities and for curses and overcoming curses. These enabled people to carry out their daily activities in union with the ancestors and the spiritual powers.

Hanga rawa anō tōna whare wānanga, hei akonga mō ngā tamariki ki ngā tini karakia, ki tō rātou atua tapu, te karakia mākutu, te karakia ātahu, te karakia wehe, te karakia taupō, te karakia hono i te iwi whati, te karakia whakahoki mākutu, te karakia patu i ngā tapu, te karakia i ngā kanohi pura, te karakia mō te raoa, te karakia mō te haere ki te whawhai, te karakia whakaara i ngā tapu, te karakia kia ua te rangi, te karakia kia mao te ua, te karakia kia whatitiri, kia rū te whenua, kia maroke ngā rākau, kia maroke te wai, kia ngaru te moana, kia rokia te moana, kia haere mai ngā ika taniwha o te moana, ngā ngārara o te tuawhenua, te karakia o te huamata, te pure o te hua mai o te tau, te karakia o te kawenga ki roto i te rua tāhuhu, i te rua kōpiha rānei, te karakia o te tomokanga ki te ngāherehere, o te whakaputanga mai rānei i ngā manu mate ki waho o te ngahere, te karakia o te whakaatahanga o te whare o te whakatuheratanga hoki o te whare, te karakia o te nehunga tūpāpaku, te karakia o te whānautanga tamariki, o te whakaputanga hoki ki waho i te whare kōhanga, o te tohinga rānei i te ingoa (TJ 20/6/1899:3). / He built his academy of learning to teach the children the many ritual chants, their sacred god, karakia for witchcraft, to bewitch, to divert affections, for ?ulcers, to mend broken bones, to counter witchcraft, to kill using tapu, for blindness, for choking, for going into battle, to lift tapu, for rain, for rain to cease, to cause lightning, to cause earthquakes, to make trees dry up, to dry up water, to make the sea rough, to calm the sea, to attract large fish of the ocean and insects of the land, karakia for planting, to lift the tapu on a harvest to ensure a plentiful crop, for storing crops in covered pits or pits, karakia for entering the forest or for bringing dead birds out of the forest, karakia for building and opening buildings, for burying the dead, or childbirth and for leaving the house for childbirth and of the naming ceremony.

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See also karakia whakahorohoro, karakia whati, karakia haumanu, karakia kikokiko, karakia whakaū

Synonyms: kaha


3. (noun) prayer, grace, blessing, service, church service - an extension of the traditional term for introduced religions, especially Christianity.

Kāore he utu mō ngā tīkiti, kāore hoki he ohaoha i roto i ngā karakia (TTT 1/10/1923:16). / The tickets are free and there is no offertory in the service.

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Synonyms: inoi, minita, whakaekeeke, whakarato, rato, ratonga, tuku

mangō taniwha

1. (noun) white shark, white pointer shark, great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias - the largest of man-eating sharks, with the largest individuals known to reach 6 metres in length and 2,268 kilograms in weight. Large spindle-shaped body with pointed snout. Near-symetrical tail, large first dorsal and very small second dorsal fin. Grey above and white below with a sharp demarcation between the two colours.

Titiro ki te weriweri o te āhua o te mangō taniwha nei (Te Ara 2011). / Observe how horrible this white pointer shark looks.

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See also mangō ururoa

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