Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

ngākau pono

1. (verb) to be  loyal, faithful, dependable, sincere.

Ka karanga nei au ki ngā tāngata Māori katoa e ngākau tika ana, e ngākau pono ana, kia kaua e whakapono ki ngā korero whakahē i tēnei kupu, ahakoa nā te Pākehā, ahakoa nā te Māori (TMT 15/3/1861:2). / I call upon all Māori who are true and faithful to not believe the negative statements, whether from Pākehā or Māori.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tinihanga kore, pono, houtupu, motuhenga, motuhēhē, pirihonge, pirihongo, horopū, piripono, tōmau, pirihonga


2. (modifier) loyal, faithful, dependable, sincere.

He karanga kia mataara, kia tautiaki te hunga ngākau pono mō tōna putanga mai (KO 15/8/1883:13). / It is a call to be alert and to take care of the people who believe in his coming.

Show example

Hide example


3. (noun) loyalty, allegiance, dependability, sincerity, integrity.

Nā te ngākau pono me te ngākaunui o Ākenehi Hei ki tāna mahi i taea ai e ia te āwhina te iwi Māori ki te whakapai ake i ngā āhua o tō rātau hauora (TTR 1996:40). / By her conscientious and devoted work Ākenehi Hei was able to help the Māori people to improve their health standards.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: pirihongo, piri, piripono, ngākaupono

New favourites & quiz!

The Te Aka Māori Dictionary mobile app now has the ability to sort your favourite words into folders. Plus, these folders can be turned into a quiz for a fun way to learn words and definitions. Download or update the app today!

iOS Android

The App

Te Aka Māori Dictionary is also available as an iOS and Android app. Download below.

iOS Android

The Book

Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index by John C Moorfield comprises a selection of modern and everyday language that will be extremely useful for learners of the Māori language.

More info

He Pātaka Kupu

Te kai a te rangatira

He Pātaka Kupu is a monolingual Māori language dictionary, and was designed using its own culturally authentic terms.

Visit website

00:00