Maori words

Question 1

tangata

Answer 1

people

Question 2

waiata

Answer 2

song

Question 3

karakia

Answer 3

prayer or chant

Question 4

kaumatua

Answer 4

wise elders of the tribe

Question 5

tamariki

Answer 5

children

Question 6

whakapapa

Answer 6

history of family over generations, and where they came from

Question 7

mana

Answer 7

power, authority, prestige

Question 8

whenua

Answer 8

the land

Question 9

waka

Answer 9

canoe

Question 10

iwi

Answer 10

a major tribal group

Question 11

atua

Answer 11

a powerful god or spirit

Question 12

Ranginui

Answer 12

Great Father of the heavens

Question 13

Papatuanuku

Answer 13

Mother of earth

Question 14

Tane Mahuta

Answer 14

god of the forests and their inhabitants

Question 15

Tangaroa

Answer 15

god of the seas and their creatures

Question 16

Tawhirimatea

Answer 16

god of the natural elements, like winds and storms

Question 17

Tumatauenga

Answer 17

god of human nature, conflict and war

Question 18

aruhe

Answer 18

fern root

Question 19

Haumiatiketike

Answer 19

god of the aruhe (fern root) and uncultivated food

Question 20

Rongomatane

Answer 20

god of the kumara, cultivated food and peaceful activities

Question 21

Ruaumoko

Answer 21

god of earthquakes and volcanoes

Question 22

Hine Nuitepo

Answer 22

goddess of death and darkness

Question 23

papeha

Answer 23

introducing yourself by listing the places you are from, such as the mountain, lake river and sea and waka of your birthplace

Question 24

whanau

Answer 24

extended family

Question 25

hapu

Answer 25

a subtribe living in a particular area

Question 26

rangatira

Answer 26

a chief

Question 27

tohunga

Answer 27

an expert in a certain skill, a priest

Question 28

tutua

Answer 28

ordinary people, commoners who have no rank

Question 29

utu

Answer 29

revenge, compensation; could be as mild as muru, or a powerful attach on another tribe involving death and cannibalism

Question 30

rahui

Answer 30

ban

Question 31

maunga

Answer 31

mountain

Question 32

moana

Answer 32

ocean

Question 33

awa

Answer 33

river

Question 34

rohe

Answer 34

region

Question 35

ingoa

Answer 35

name

Question 36

harakeke

Answer 36

flax

Question 37

noa

Answer 37

normal, ordinary

Question 38

tapu

Answer 38

sacred, forbidden

Question 39

whakanoa

Answer 39

to remove tapu, make ordinary again

Question 40

ta kauae runga

Answer 40

the upper jawbone

Question 41

ta kauae taro

Answer 41

the lower jawbone

Question 42

kainga

Answer 42

village, home

Question 43

taniko

Answer 43

intricately woven coloured border on a cloak, usually red, black and white

Question 44

hui

Answer 44

a meeting or gathering

Question 45

taua

Answer 45

war party, army

Question 46

muru

Answer 46

a raid on another group (to take away their goods) as compensation for some wrongdoing

Question 47

kaitangata

Answer 47

ritual feasting on the bodies of the enemy after defeat

Question 48

Te Waka a Maui

Answer 48

South Island

Question 49

pounamu

Answer 49

greenstone - only found in the South Island (Te Waka a Maui)

Question 50

pakini

Answer 50

pinch

Question 51

rakuraku

Answer 51

scratch

Question 52

moko

Answer 52

tattoo

Question 53

taonga

Answer 53

useful and sacred things

Question 54

mokai

Answer 54

a person who is a favored pet, treated well and belonging to a tribe

Question 55

kaiwhakarite

Answer 55

an intermediary or ‘go-between’ Pakeha who spoke enough Maori and English to help tribes trade with visiting ships