pōhuatau
1. (noun) apt saying - includes whakatauākī, karakia, ngeri and haka.
Ko te whaikōrero ki a Te Arawa he kōrero tapu tonu tēnei kōrero, nā te mea ka kite ana koe, ka rongo ana koe i ngā kaumātua, ngā tāngata o Te Arawa e whaikōrero ana, ka tīmatahia ā rātou kōrero ki te pōhuatau (Rewi 2005:184). / According to Te Arawa oratory is sacred talk because when you see and hear the elders and the men of Te Arawa making speeches their talk begins with an apt saying.
