ataata
1. (noun) shadow, reflection.
I te taenga o te ope taua ki tētehi kāinga ka whiua e te tangata whenua he kai mā te ope, ā, e tata ana te ope te matika atu ki te kai, ka tau te ataata o Hae ki runga i ngā kai. Tapu tonu atu ngā kai rā, ā, kua kore e pai hei kai (NIT 1995:239). / When the war party arrived at a village the local people placed food out for the visitors, and just as they were about to eat, Hae's shadow fell on the food. The food immediately became tapu and was no longer fit to eat.
Synonyms: whakaatanga, whakaahuatanga, whakaata, ata, kōruru, taumaru, taumarumaru, atarau, whakamomoka, whakamokamoka, maru, ātārangi
2. (noun) video.
Ko te wairuatoa tērā engari ko te waimarie i mau i a rātou ō rātou tīpuna e kōrero ana, e waiata ana ki te rīpene me te ataata, ā, mā te āta tātari pea i ērā ka paku pahawa tētahi punua ora nei (HM 3/1998). / That's unlucky but the fortunate thing is that they captured their ancestors talking on tape and video and by carefully sifting through those perhaps some benefit will be gained.
3. (noun) winkle, common cat's eye, cat's eye turban shell, Turbo smaragdus - a univalve mollusc common on rocks between tides, the shell is dark, heavy and smooth, and has an eye-like operculum. Lives on the tiny young seaweeds on the rocks. A favourite traditional food of Māori.
