Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Kupe

1. (personal name) an early visitor to Aotearoa/New Zealand who returned to Hawaiki.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 210-219;)

Pēhi Kupe, Te

1. (personal name) (?-1828) Ngāti Toa; chief and warrior who fought with Te Rauparaha in the conquest of new territories in central Aotearoa/New Zealand, establishing their headquarters on Kapiti Island. Visited England in 1824 where he met King George IV, returning with guns for the invasion of the South Island, but he was killed at Kaiapoi pā after insulting a Ngāi Tahu chief.

(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 142-160;)

Ko Te Pēhi Kupe te mātāmua o ngā tama a Toitoi, ā, i heke mai a ia i ngā tātai matua o Toa Rangatira, te tino tipuna o Ngāti Toa (TTR 1990:245). / Te Pehi Kupe was the firstborn of Toitoi's sons and was descended in the senior line from Toa Rangatira, the eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Toa.

Show example

Hide example

Koko a Kupe, Te

1. (location) Cloudy Bay (northern South Island). Also known as Te Whanganui.

ngā tai a Kupe

1. exceptionally high tides, king tides, spring tides.

Ka whawhai atu koe ki ngā tai a Kupe (W 1971:361). / You will battle against the king tides.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: taitai nunui

Mātakitaki-a-Kupe, Te

1. (location) Cape Palliser - southernmost point of the North Island.

Matawhaorua

1. (personal name) canoe on which Kupe sailed to Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Ko 'Matawhaorua' he waka tapu, e kore e utaina te kai ki runga, nā 'Māmari' i mau mai ngā oranga mō ngā tāngata o 'Matawhaorua', me ngā purapura (TP 7/1913:5). / 'Matawhaorua' was a sacred canoe, food could not be taken on board. It was 'Māmari' that brought the sustenance for the crew of 'Matawhaorua', and the seeds.

Show example

Hide example

See also Matahourua

Matahourua

1. (personal noun) canoe that brought Kupe from Hawaiki.

(Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 30; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 210-219;)

Ko te tipuna tōmua rawa ake, rongonui rawa ake o ngā iwi o Te Tau Ihu, ko Kupe, te rangatira rongonui o te waka a 'Matahourua', i heke i Hawaiki (Te Ara 2011). / The earliest and most famous ancestor of the northern South Island was Kupe, the famous chief of the 'Matahourua' canoe which migrated from Hawaiki.

Show example

Hide example

New favourites & quiz!

The Te Aka Māori Dictionary mobile app now has the ability to sort your favourite words into folders. Plus, these folders can be turned into a quiz for a fun way to learn words and definitions. Download or update the app today!

iOS Android

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