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Idioms

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Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whai tikanga

1. (verb) (-tia) to be formal, handy, important, meaningful, have importance.

Kāhore ia i tino whakapono e whai tikanga ana te whakaminenga o ngā rangatira (TTR 1990:58). / He did not believe that the confederation of chiefs was a serious prospect.

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2. (verb) (-tia) to have a right, have an interest.

Ki te whakaaro o te Komiti kāhore i whakaaturia mai he tino take kia whai tikangatia ai te Ture Whakatikatika i te Ture Ārai i ngā Tuku hē i ngā Whenua Māori, 1873 (TWMNT 17/4/1877:107). / This Committee is of opinion that no sufficient cause has been shown for interfering with the provisions of The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act Amendment Act, 1873.

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3. (modifier) important, meaningful, pivotal.

Nā Paurini Te Whatarau, he rangatira ahurei nō Ngāti Pūkenga, te mahi whai tikanga i riro mai ai he wāhi noho mō tōna iwi i Maketū (TTR 1994:143). / Paurini Te Whatarau, a prominent Ngāti Pukenga chief, played a pivotal role in securing living space for his people at Maketū.

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4. (noun) importance, value.

Ka kite a Tirarau i te whai tikanga o te mahi tahi me te kāwanatanga (TTR 1994:166). / Tirarau saw the importance of co-operating with the government.

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