taikaha
1. (verb) to be stubborn, persistent, violent, strict, severe, hard-nosed, stern, harsh, forceful.
2. (modifier) stubborn, persistent, violent, strict, severe, hard-nosed, stern, harsh, forceful.
Ka oho rā ngā mātāpuputu, ka noho toheriri ki te tū taikaha a ngā taitama nei, ā, nāwai, nāwai, tere tonu te ngaro atu o taua rōpū nei (TTR 1996:138). / The elders were taken aback and hostile with the assertiveness of the young men and after some time that group quickly disappeared.
3. (noun) severity, harshness, sternness.
Ko te piki me te heke o te reo, tae atu ki te taikaha, te ngāwari rānei o te whiu, tētahi mea nui e whakaata ana pēhea rā ngā whakaaro o te kaikōrero, arā, e whiua ana te kupu i runga i te ngākau pai, te ngākau kino, pēhea kē rānei (HKK 1999:7). / The rising or lowering of the voice, including the harshness or softness of the delivery, is an important thing reflecting the thoughts of the speaker, that is, is what is being said being delivered with a kind heart, a nasty attitude, or whatever.
Synonyms: pākaha
4. (noun) violence.
Ko ngā āwangawanga e kōrero nuitia ana ko te whakaata i te taikaha, i te ai me te tū tahanga, me te kangakanga (RT 2013:70). / The concerns being discussed widely are the showing of violence, sexual acts and nudity, and swearing.
