Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

whakatau

1. (verb) (-a,-hia,-ngia,-ria) to decide, settle, prepare, determine, arbitrate, adjudicate.

I te 17 o Hune nei, i whakawākia rāua i te Kōti Matua mō te hara tuhituhi pukanoa i ngā ingoa tāngata kē ki ngā tieki tono moni i ngā pēke, ā whakataua ana e te kōti kia kotahi tau mō tētahi, mō tētahi ki te whare herehere (TWMA 20/6/1884:3). / On 17th June they went on trial in the Supreme Court for writing fraudulent cheques and were each sentenced by the court to one year in prison.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: whakatikatika, whakatakatū, takatū, whakatakataka, whakatika, pātā, whakapai, whakataka, rāwekeweke, tītakataka, rahurahu, raweke, whakaute, takataka, whakareri


2. (verb) (-a,-hia,-ngia) to go to meet, visit.

Ā, haere ana rātou ki te whakatau i taua tangata nei (JPS 1952:189). / So they went to meet the man.

Show example

Hide example


3. (verb) (-a,-hia,-ngia) to welcome officially, welcome formally.

Tērā atu anō ētahi o ngā rangatira o Ngāti Porou i tū ki te whakatau i te manuhiri (HKW 1/4/1902:3). / There were some other leaders of Ngāti Porou who stood to formally welcome the visitors.

Show example

Hide example


4. (verb) (-a,-hia,-ngia) to imitate, mime, mimic, act out, feign, make believe, simulate.

Ka whakatau te tangata rā i te kaiako, hemo ana mātou i te kata (PK 2008:1135). / When that man imitated the teacher we died laughing.

Show example

Hide example

Synonyms: tāwhai, whakahuahua, whakangaio, whakaari ngū, whakataruna, whakatakune


5. (verb) (-a,-hia,-ngia) to put on as an ornament, adorn.

Whakataua mai te awe o te toroa (W 1971:396). / Put on the feather plumes of the albatross.

Show example

Hide example


6. (modifier) decisive.

Ko taua kupu whakatau a te kōti ka waiho hei kupu tūturu tonu ki ngā tāngata katoa e uru ana ki taua mahi (TWMNT 5/9/1876:216). / That decision of the court remained as the guiding principle for all the people entering into that occupation.

Show example

Hide example


7. (modifier) welcoming, greeting.

Nā Te Wiremu ngā kupu whakatau i a ia (HKW 1/5/1902:4). / Mr Williams gave the words of welcome to him.

Show example

Hide example


8. (noun) decision, settlement, role play, charade.

Ko te whakatau a ngā tākuta, kāhore rawa he pōrangi o taua none, ā nō konei ka tukua ia e te kōti kia haere (TKO 30/9/1920:11). / The decision of the doctors was that that nun was not mentally ill, and as a result she was released by the court.

Show example

Hide example


9. (noun) official welcome speeches.

Auina iho i te ahiahi o taua rā anō i te 8 o ngā hāora, ka haere ngā mihi me ngā whakatau ki a ia (TKO 6/1914:1). / Later in the evening of that same day at 8 o'clock the speeches of welcome to him occurred.

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