Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

pōhiri

1. (verb) (-tia,-ngia) to welcome, invite, beckon, wave.

Te ūnga atu o te manuhiri ki Waahi ka pōhiritia e Waikato, e Kīngi Mahuta (TP 1/5/1900:10). / When the visitors landed at Waahi they were welcomed by Waikato and King Mahuta.

Show example

Hide example

See also pōwhiri


2. (noun) invitation, ritual of encounter, welcome ceremony on a marae.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 122-138; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 197-205;)

Tēnā rā e ngā iwi kia tītaha mai ō koutou taringa ki te whakarongo mai ki te pōhiri a tā koutou mōkai, a Tamaterangi, e pōhiri atu nei ki a koe, ki a koutou (TKO 1/12/1917:7). / Now, the tribes, take heed of the invitation of your servant, Tamaterangi, who is inviting you.

Show example

Hide example

See also pōwhiri


3. (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.

haka pōhiri

1. (noun) welcome haka - ceremonial dance performed to welcome visitors. Sometimes leaves are waved as a symbol of death.

Anō tōna āhua, mehemea nei i kuhu ki roto i tētahi ana, e pūkai ana ngā kōiwi o te hunga kua mate, e tangi ā-wairua mai ana, anō rā ko te reo o ngā whakairo, o ngā tuhi, o ngā tukutuku, o ngā pou tokomanawa, o te tāhā, o ngā heke, o ngā pakitara, ngā haka pōhiri a Ngata mā (TTT 1/4/1930 wh / The welcome dances of Ngata and the others and the laments of those women were as if one had gone into a cave where the bones of the people who had died were piled up, weeping in spirit, and it was as if it was the voice of the carvings, painted art, tukutuku panels, central post, ridge pole, rafters, walls crying out.

Show example

Hide example

See also haka pōwhiri

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.

Show example

Hide example

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.

Show example

Hide example

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.

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