Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

maukoro

1. (noun) native broom, Carmichaelia australis - a native shrub found in the northern half of the North Island. It has leaves 5-6 mm long, usually 5-7 in a group, but is often leafless. Branchlets are green and strap-like and the tiny flowers are white with purple veins. Seeds are orange-red, hanging in the frame-like remains of pods.

See also tainoka

Synonyms: tarangahape, tainoka, mākaka, taunoka

kaihua

1. (noun) New Zealand jasmine, native jasmine, Parsonsia heterophylla - a native climbing vine with longish leaves and white, sweet-scented, tubular flowers which often twines around itself.

tūrutu

1. (verb) to screen, shelter.

Ka haramai tēnei ka tūrutu, ka paetau noa au kai te whare (M 2005:354). / This one comes and shelters, and I just sit apart in the house.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tītopa, pāhoka, pāhokahoka, pātakitaki, pātūtū, whakaruru, , tauārai, mata, , ārai, rīanga, takitaki, pākai, pākai riri, araarai, pātū, pekerangi, ārei, ruruhau, taumaru, pāruru, taumarumaru, whakamauru, whakamarumaru, whakaruruhau, maru, piringa, tāwharau, tīhokahoka, whakahau, whakamaru, whakamaurutanga


2. (noun) tūrutu, New Zealand blueberry, Dianella nigra - loose tussock forming evergreen perennial herb, forming dense to open, diffuse clumps; rhizomes horizontally 150 mm (or more) long, strong and well developed. Leaves 250-800 x 12-18 mm, uniformly green to dark green, upright to strongly curved and distinctly drooping, more or less flat. Green or white flowers November - December and berries from grey-white and dull to strongly violet-blue and glossy.

Synonyms: rēua, piopio


3. (noun) New Zealand iris, native iris, Libertia ixioides - a native plant seen beside tracks and streams. Leaves turn yellow to orange in full sun and are smooth, stiff and long, growing in fans forming a tuft. Flowers are white and three-petalled while the fruit is yellow pear-shaped capsules.

taranui

1. (noun) Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia  - a very large silver-grey tern with a massive red bill tipped black and yellow.


2. (noun) scrobic, native paspalum, Paspalum orbiculare - a native perennial grass. Leaves stiffly erect. Known only from the Kermadec Islands and in the North Island where it occurs from Northland to Raglan Harbour in the west and Whale Island in the Bay of Plenty. Coastal to lowland, in seasonal wetlands, on lake margins, in gumland scrub, along track sides and near or around active geothermal vents.

See also tarakoi

Synonyms: tarakoi, tuhui

mīkoikoi

1. (noun) New Zealand iris, native iris, Libertia ixioides and Libertia grandiflora - a native plant seen beside tracks and streams. Leaves turn yellow to orange in full sun and are smooth, stiff and long, growing in fans forming a tuft. Flowers are white and three-petalled while the fruit is yellow pear-shaped capsules.

kaikawaka

1. (noun) New Zealand cedar, Libocedrus plumosa - a tall native tree with a cone-shaped head of heavy, almost horizontally spreading branches. The trunk is without branches for some distance above the ground and has thin, parchment-like bark which falls in long strips. The leaves are rich green, compressed and flattened, giving a feathery effect.


2. (noun) native cedar, Libocedrus bidwillii - a tall native tree with a cone-shaped head of heavy, almost horizontally spreading branches. The trunk is without branches for some distance above the ground and has thin, parchment-like bark which falls in long strips.

See also pāhautea

mākaka

1. (noun) saltmarsh ribbonwood, Plagianthus divaricatus - a native shrub with few, small, narrow leaves in tufts or alternating. petals white tinged pink, fruits fawn in colour splitting to release the single seed. A dense bush with tough, wiry, dark and intertwining stems. Found at the heads of estuaries throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Synonyms: runa


2. (noun) bushman's mattress, Lygodium articulatum - loosely climbing native fern with long, wiry, twisting stalks reaching into the tops of trees. Side stalks fork 2-3 times, ending in long, strap-like leaflets. Common in lowland forest of the northern half of the North Island.

See also mangemange

Synonyms: mangemange, mounga, makamaka


3. (noun) native broom, Carmichaelia australis - a native shrub found in the northern half of the North Island. It has leaves 5-6 mm long, usually 5-7 in a group, but is often leafless. Branchlets are green and strap-like and the tiny flowers are white with purple veins. Seeds are orange-red, hanging in the frame-like remains of pods.

See also tainoka

Synonyms: tarangahape, maukoro, taunoka, tainoka


4. (noun) native brooms of various species, Carmichaelia spp.

Synonyms: tarangahape

tautaua

1. (noun) New Zealand jasmine, native jasmine, Parsonsia heterophylla - a native climbing vine with longish leaves and white, sweet-scented, tubular flowers which often twines around itself.

See also akakiore

akakiore

1. (noun) New Zealand jasmine, native jasmine, Parsonsia heterophylla, small New Zealand jasmine, Parsonsia capsularis - native climbing vines which often twine around themselves. Have longish leaves and white, sweet-scented, tubular flowers.

Engari te akakiore, kāore he niho o tērā (W 1971:221). / But the New Zealand jasmine, that has no thorns.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tautaua, kaihua, akakaikiore, tawhiwhi, poapoa tautaua, tūtae kererū, kaikū, kaiwhiria, tōtorowene, tōtoroene

tainoka

1. (noun) native broom, Carmichaelia australis - a native shrub found in the northern half of the North Island. It has leaves 5-6 mm long, usually 5-7 in a group, but is often leafless. Branchlets are green and strap-like and the tiny flowers are white with purple veins. Seeds are orange-red, hanging in the frame-like remains of pods.

tuhui

1. (noun) scrobic, native paspalum, Paspalum orbiculare - a native perennial grass. Leaves stiffly erect. Known only from the Kermadec Islands and in the North Island where it occurs from Northland to Raglan Harbour in the west and Whale Island in the Bay of Plenty. Coastal to lowland, in seasonal wetlands, on lake margins, in gumland scrub, along track sides and near or around active geothermal vents.

See also tarakoi

Synonyms: tarakoi, taranui

pōwhiwhi

1. (noun) native bindweed, Calystegia tuguriorum - a native climbing plant with twining stems and alternating, triangular to heart-shaped leaves on long stalks. The white or pink flowers are large and funnel-shaped.


2. (noun) morning glory, Ipomoea cairica - a slender climbing or scrambling plant found in northern coastal areas. It has flaring pale purple flowers with a darker throat, which are produced through summer.

taunoka

1. (noun) native broom, Carmichaelia australis - a native shrub found in the northern half of the North Island. It has leaves 5-6 mm long, usually 5-7 in a group, but is often leafless. Branchlets are green and strap-like and the tiny flowers are white with purple veins. Seeds are orange-red, hanging in the frame-like remains of pods.

See also tainoka

Synonyms: tarangahape, tainoka, mākaka, maukoro

tarakoi

1. (noun) scrobic, native paspalum, Paspalum orbiculare - a native perennial grass. Leaves stiffly erect. Known only from the Kermadec Islands and in the North Island where it occurs from Northland to Raglan Harbour in the west and Whale Island in the Bay of Plenty. Coastal to lowland, in seasonal wetlands, on lake margins, in gumland scrub, along track sides and near or around active geothermal vents.

Synonyms: tuhui, taranui

tawhiwhi

1. (noun) New Zealand jasmine, native jasmine, Parsonsia heterophylla - native climbing vine which often twines around itself. Has longish leaves and white, sweet-scented, tubular flowers.


2. (noun) kōhūhū, Pittosporum tenuifolium - a small native black-barked tree of lowland forest and scrub, having light green leaves with a wavy margin. Commonly cultivated for hedges.

akakaikiore

1. (noun) New Zealand jasmine, native jasmine, Parsonsia heterophylla, small New Zealand jasmine, Parsonsia capsularis - native climbing vines which often twine around themselves. Have longish leaves and white, sweet-scented, tubular flowers.

tarangahape

1. (noun) native broom, Carmichaelia australis - a native shrub found in the northern half of the North Island. It has leaves 5-6 mm long, usually 5-7 in a group, but is often leafless. Branchlets are green and strap-like and the tiny flowers are white with purple veins. Seeds are orange-red, hanging in the frame-like remains of pods.

See also tainoka


2. (noun) native brooms of various species, Carmichaelia spp.

Synonyms: mākaka

tūkāuki

1. (noun) New Zealand iris, native iris, Libertia ixioides - a native plant seen beside tracks and streams. Leaves turn yellow to orange in full sun and are smooth, stiff and long, growing in fans forming a tuft. Flowers are white and three-petalled while the fruit is yellow pear-shaped capsules.

poapoa tautaua

1. (noun) New Zealand jasmine, native jasmine, Parsonsia heterophylla - native climbing vine which often twines around itself. Has longish leaves and white, sweet-scented, tubular flowers.

tūtae kererū

1. (noun) New Zealand jasmine, native jasmine, Parsonsia heterophylla - native climbing vine which often twines around itself. Has longish leaves and white, sweet-scented, tubular flowers.

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