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.
Synonyms: pirihongo, horopū, piripono, tōmau, pirihonga, pirihonge
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.
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.
Synonyms: pirihongo, ngākaupono, piri, piripono
