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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.

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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.

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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.

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