Māori Dictionary Maori pronounciation

      English is the dominant language spoken by most New Zealanders. But Māori is very common too. Māori was the original language before the Pākehā came to New Zealand. It is used these days but not fluently

      Pronunciation is key. a,e,i,o,u and ā,ē,ī,ō,ū Sometimes there can be a macron over top of a vowel, meaning you say the vowel long Example: Matua= father and Mātua= parents Mātua, you say the ‘a’ long so maatua instead of matua

      Karakia

      E te Ariki Whakapaingia enei kai Hei oranga mo o matou tinana, Whangaia hoki o matou wairua Ki te taro o te ora, Ma ihu karaiti hoki To matou Ariki Amine

      Ko te aroha anō he wai. E pupū ake ana. He awa e māpuna mai ana. I roto i te whatū-manawa. Ko tona matapuna he hōhonu. Ā ina ia ka rere anō. He tai timu. He tai pari. He tai ope. He tai ora. He tai nui. Love is like water, continually bubbling up, a river that will keep flowing, from within the very seat of the emotions.  From a very deep source, it will keep on rising, an ebb tide,  an incoming tide, a forceful tide, 

      Key Māori words New Zealanders should know

        • Aroha = love
        • Awa = river
        • Haka = war dance
        • Kai = food
        • Karakia = grace/prayer
        • Mahi = work
        • Marae = meeting house
        • Maunga = mountain
        • Moana = sea
        • Pākehā = Nzer of non Māori descendant (usually European)
        • Pounamu = greenstone
        • Tamariki = children
        • Taonga = treasure
        • Waiata = song
        • Waka = canoe
        • Whānau = family