whakakatakata
1. (verb) to amuse, make laugh.
Ko te nuinga o ngā kōrero paki a te Māori, tuatahi, ko tōna āhuatanga he kōrero ngahau. Hei whakangahau i te tangata, hei whakakatakata i te tangata, hei whakakotahi i te tangata, hei whakatau i te tangata, ā, ka mutu, hei whakaataata i te whakawhanaungatanga kei waenganui i a rātau (HM 3/1997:3). / The majority of Māori yarns are, firstly, for enjoyment; to entertain, to amuse, to unite and to put people at ease and to reflect the relationship amongst them.
Synonyms: whakakata, whakahohehohe
2. (modifier) funny, humorous.
He tangata whakakatakata, tinihanga hoki te āhua o Wī Whitu (TTR 2000:246). / Wī Whitu was a humorous man with a sense of devilment.
3. (noun) humour, wit.
Ki tōna nei whakaaro, i tua atu i te mahi whai i te mātauranga, ko te mahi ake anō mā ngā kura he whakahauhau i ngā tikanga o te māhaki, o te whakakatakata, o te manaaki, o te hūmārika, o te āwhina, o te whakawhirinaki me te ngākau pono hoki (TTR 2000:24). / In his opinion, in addition to fostering scholarship, the primary task of schools was to encourage humility, humour, kindness, forbearance, helpfulness, trust and loyalty.
