2. (noun) decline, deterioration, degeneration.
He nui ngā mea kei te kī, ā, ko ahau tētahi, nā te whakamōnenehu o te reo me ngā tikanga Māori i kino haere ai te atawhai a te iwi Māori i ngā iwi kē kei tēnei whenua e noho ana (HM 2/1993:5). / Many are saying, and I am one, that it is because of the decline of the Māori language and customs that the tolerance of the Māori people towards other ethnic groups living in this country has deteriorated.
