1. (verb) to close the eyes - when performing haka and waiata. Often followed immediately by pūkana.
Ko te pōtētē he āhua rite anō ki te pūkana, engari ko te mea nui kē o tēnei mahi he whakatautau, arā, ka whati ngā turi, ka moe ngā kanohi (Wh4 2004:59). / The pōtētē is a little like the pūkana, but the main thing about this activity is to whakatautau, that is, the knees bend and the eyes shut.
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