kaiponu
1. (verb) (-hia,-tia) to keep to oneself, withhold (especially of things which should be shared, including knowledge), refuse to let go.
Nō reira, e ngā whanaunga, e ngā pūkōrero, kaua e kaiponutia ngā taonga a ō tātou tūpuna (TP 10/1907:9). / Therefore, my relations, the spokespeople, do not withhold the precious knowledge of our ancestors.
2. (modifier) avaricious, acquisitive, covetous, grasping, miserly, mercenary.
3. (noun) avaricious person, acquisitive person, covetous person, grasping person, miserly person, mercenary person, miser, skinflint.
Ko te take tuatoru i kore ai te Maori e tohu taonga he wehi nō te Maori kei kīia ia he hākere, he matapiko, he kaiponu (TP 7/1907:4). / The third reason that the Māori would not accumulate possessions is the fear that they might be said to be stingy, mean and covetous.
Synonyms: pitokite, kaikoropeke, ringa poto, matapiko, kaihākere, makitaunu, porokaihākere, atuapo
