haratau
1. (verb) to be convenient, suitable, approved, relevant.
Ka roa e noho ana i reira, kāore i haratau a reira ki te noho, he kore tahora, he tuaranga nō te takoto o te whenua (JPS 1928:176). / After staying there for a considerable time it was found to be an unsuitable place to live, owing to the lack of open land and the rough nature of the country.
Synonyms: whaitake
2. (verb) to be dexterous, deft, adroit, adept.
3. (verb) to practise, rehearse, refine.
Engari nā te noho tonu ki te haratau, nāwai rā, nāwai rā kua tīmata ngā kupu ki te noho ki roto i te hinengaro me te poho o te hunga e tū ana ki te whakamātautau i ngā mahi haka (Milroy 2015). / But by continually practising, after a time the words begin to settle into the minds and hearts of the people standing to perform.
Synonyms: whakaakoako, mahi, akoako, whakaharatau, whakahāngai, whakawai, parakitihi, whakapai ake, whakamahine
4. (modifier) dexterous, deft, adroit.
He tangata haratau ki ngā rākau a Tū (RMR 2017). / An adept person with Māori weaponry.
5. (noun) convenience, suitability, relevance.
He mea whakairo hoki, he mea kōwhaiwhai, he mea tukutuku, hei pupuri i te ātanga, i te wehi, i te haratau o ērā taonga a ō tātau tīpuna i roto i tēnei o ngā whare o te Atua (TTT 1/12/1925:336). / And it was carved and decorated with rafter paintings and lattice-work to retain the beauty, awesomeness and relevance of those treasures of our ancestors in this particular house of God.
Synonyms: hāngaitanga, whaitake
6. (noun) practice, craft, dexterity.
Kāore i rerekē mai tāna momo minitatanga i te haratau o ngā minita Māori Mihinare (TTR 1996:117). / His style of ministry was no different from the practice of the Anglican Maori clergy.
