Te Kupu o Te Wiki – Pōtae (hat)

Kia ora. To encourage the use of Te Reo Māori we are publishing weekly kupu (words) and phrases that can be used with children.

Whakatauki

Nāku te rourou nāu te rourou ka ora ai te iwi.
With your basket and my basket the people will live

Referring to co-operation and the combination of resources to get ahead. This proverb can be very useful and is often said.

Kīwaha (idiom)

Kua Māui tonu atu koe?
You think you are super human or something?

Kupu (word)

Pōtae
Hat

Tïkina tō pōtae.
Fetch your hat.

• Hear the Ngā Rerenga Kōrero o te Wiki – Phrase of the week.
• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.

Te Kupu o Te Wiki – Mahana (warm)

Kia ora. To encourage the use of Te Reo Māori we are publishing weekly kupu (words) and phrases that can be used with children.

Whakatauki

Tā te tamaiti mahi, he wawāhi tahā

It is the job of the children to smash the calabash

This proverb is similar to “boys will be boys”. The calabash was a valuable tool for the transportation of food and water and was also used to heat water. A child who has clumsy and of a playful nature has no idea of the importance of this tool and through neglect may accidentally break it. This is not the fault of the child and they should not be punished for what is their nature.

Kīwaha (idiom)

Koia kei a koe
What a sad guy

Kupu (word)

mahana
warm

Kei te mahana te wai?
Is the water warm?

• Hear the Ngā Rerenga Kōrero o te Wiki – Phrase of the week.
• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.

 

Te Kupu o Te Wiki – Hiakai (hungry)

Kia ora. To encourage the use of Te Reo Māori we are publishing weekly kupu (words) and phrases that can be used with children.

Kīwaha (idiom)

Aheiha
Hard

Kupu (word)

hiakai
hungry

Kei te hiakai koe?
Are you hungry?

• Hear the Ngā Rerenga Kōrero o te Wiki – Phrase of the week.
• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.

 

Te Kupu o Te Wiki – Mamae (sore)

Kia ora. To encourage the use of Te Reo Māori we are publishing weekly kupu (words) and phrases that can be used with children.

Whakataukī

He manako te koura i kore ai.
There are no crayfish as you set your heart on them.

This is similar to not putting all your eggs in one basket. You could also consider this as “don’t count your chickens before they are hatched”.

Kīwaha (idiom)

E mea ana koe
You bet

Kupu (word)

mamae
sore

Kei te mamae tō puku?
Is your tummy sore?

• Hear the Ngā Rerenga Kōrero o te Wiki – Phrase of the week.
• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.

 

Te Kupu o Te Wiki – Ātaahua (beautiful)

Kia ora. To encourage the use of Te Reo Māori we are publishing weekly kupu (words) and phrases that can be used with children.

Whakataukī

Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi.
Without foresight or vision the people will be lost.

Said by Kingi Tawhiao Potatau te Wherowhero, to show the urgency of unification and strong Māori leadership.

Kīwaha (idiom)

Wehi nā
Oh my goodness

Kupu (word)

ātaahua
beautiful

Tō ātaahua hoki! 
You’re so beautiful!

• Hear the Ngā Rerenga Kōrero o te Wiki – Phrase of the week.
• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.

 

Whakataukī – Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Rāmere

Tēnā koutou katoa
Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa

Ko te reo te taikura ō te whakaaro marama
Language is the key to understanding

He pai ake te iti i te kore
A little is better than none

Whakataukī are a wonderful way of expressing yourself, sharing thoughts, feelings, perceptions and ideas. We are all familiar with a range of proverbs that we may use without even thinking about their origins. Whakataukī are similar – a quick and effective way to rely a message and use te reo Māori.

In the spirit of this year’s kaupapa, here is one for your whānau:

Ka nui taku aroha ki a koe
My love for you knows no bounds

Whakataukī are used everywhere in te Ao Māori and one way of regularly using te Reo Māori is to have a few up your sleeve for frequent use.

Find whakataukī in our collection.

Do you have a whakataukī that you use regularly?

Kōrerorero mai, karawhiua!

Te Kupu o te Wiki – The Word of the Week

Kia ora. To celebrate Te Reo Māori we are publishing kupu (words).

Whakataukī

Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi.
As an old net withers another is remade.

When an elder is no longer fit to lead, a healthier leader will stand in his or her place.

Kīwaha (colloquialism)

Mea rawa.
Next minute.

Kupu (word)

ika
fish

He maha ngā ika ake o Aotearoa.
New Zealand has many native fish species.

Watch a video to learn how to use this kupu.

• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.
• Weekly kupu videos from Māori Television.

Te Kupu o te Wiki – The Word of the Week

Kia ora. To celebrate Te Reo Māori we are publishing kupu (words).

Whakataukī

Ka mate te kāinga tahi, ka ora te kāinga rua.
When one house dies, a second lives.

Historically used when two houses or families are merged due to the unfortunate circumstances of one particular family. However this could be used when something good emerges from misfortune

Kīwaha (colloquialism)

Aua hoki!
No idea!

Kupu (word)

horoi
wash

Māku ngā rīhi e horoi.
I will wash the dishes.

• Browse our Te Reo Māori resources.
• Previous Te Kupu o te reo Māori posts.

Whakataukī for Rātapu

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.

Language is the life force of Māori.

Rātapu’s (Sunday’s) whakatauki.

• Māori Language Week events at Christchurch City Libraries
• More Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori blog posts
• Te Reo Māori — our page of Māori language resources.

Whakataukī for Rāhoroi

Ko te reo Māori te kākahu o te whakaaro, te huarahi i te ao tūroa.

The Māori language is the cloak of thought and the pathway to this natural world.

Rāhoroi’s (Saturday’s) whakatauki.

• Māori Language Week events at Christchurch City Libraries
• More Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori blog posts
• Te Reo Māori — our page of Māori language resources.