whakarau pūngao
1. (noun) metabolism.
Ko te whakarau pūngao ngā tauhohe matū e haere ana i roto i ngā pūtau o tētahi rauropi e puta ai te pūngao, hei whakatutuki māna i ōna tukanga ora, pērā i te tupu, te neke, te tukupara me te whakaputa uri (RP 2009:448). / Metabolism involves the chemical reactions in the cells of an organism which produce energy, enabling the organism to carry out its living processes such as growth, movement, discharging waste and reproduction. (RP 2009:448).