mātāpono
1. (noun) principle, maxim.
I tua atu i tō rātou matatau ki te reo Māori, e tika ana anō kia matatau ngā tāngata o roto i tēnei whakahaere ki te whakatakoto mahere reo, ki te whakahaere rangahau, ki te āhua o te kāwanatanga, me ngā mātāpono mātauranga (HM 1/1999). / Apart from their knowledge of Māori, the people involved need to be familiar with establishing language plans, with conducting research, with the nature of government and with education principles.