Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

werowero

1. (verb) (-hia) to challenge frequently, stab frequently, poke.

Ko tā ētahi anō he werowero, he whakatari i te hunga whakatairanga i te reo Māori (HM 1/1993). / Others are to challenge and provoke the people promoting the Māori language.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: wero, poka


2. (noun) stabbing, piercing, poking.

Ka whakataetae ki te huri haere i ngā pōwhā rarauhe kia tata atu ki te pā; kore rawa i tata atu i ngā tāngata o roto o te pā te werowero mai ki te mānuka tarere mai i runga i ngā pūwhara o te pā (JPS 1919:93). / A contention ensued in the rolling of bundles of bracken fern close to the fort, which did not reach them, so energetic were the men in the fort in poking mānuka spears from the elevated stages of the fort.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: kōtaratara, wero, tīwharawhara, pākinakina


3. (noun) challenge.

Haere tonu āna werowero ki te kāwanatanga mō ngā kerēme a Ngāi Tahu (TTR 1994:103). / He continued to challenge the government on Ngāi Tahu claims.

Show example

Hide example

Te Kākano 3rd Edition

New edition of the leading Māori-language textbook out now.

More info

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