It’s Māori language week, and time to get involved! Below are some basic words for you to start practicing and incorporating into your every day life!
Hui – meeting, conference, gathering
Marae – the area for formal discourse in front of a meeting house; or the whole marae complex, including meeting house, dining hall, forecourt, etc.
Haere mai! – Welcome! Enter!
Nau mai! – Welcome!
Tangihanga – funeral ceremony in which a body is mourned on a marae
Tangi – short (verbal version) for the above; or to cry, to mourn
Karanga – the ceremony of calling to the guests to welcome them onto the marae
Manuhiri – guests, visitors
Tangata whenua – original people belonging to a place, local people, hosts
Whaikōrero – the art and practice of speech making
Kaikōrero or kaiwhai korero – speaker (there are many other terms)
Haka – chant with dance for the purpose of challenge (see other references to haka on this site)
Waiata – song or chant which follows a speech
Koha – gift, present (usually money, can be food or precious items, given by guest to hosts)
Whare nui – meeting house; sometimes run together as one word wharenui
Whare whakairo – carved meeting house
Whare kai – dining hall
Wharepaku – lavatory, toilet
Whare horoi – ablution block, bathroom
