Tania’s list of Maori words
(these are my sort-of translations to help you understand)
hangi – earth oven
ika – fish (eg Johnny and Heeni are the Ikatere kids = quick fish)
iwi – tribe
ka pai – is good, okay
kai – food
Kaumatua – leader
kete – flax basket
kia – be or like ( eg kia tere = be quick, kia kaha = be strong)
Kina – sea urchin
Koro – grandfather (or respected older man)
mango – shark (mangopare = hammerhead shark)
marae – Maori community centre
moana – sea (eg moananui = big sea, kaimoana = seafood)
mokopuna – grandchildren
motu – island (eg Moturoa = long island)
tamariki – children
tapu – sacred, protected
te – the (for one thing)
te reo – ‘the language’ = Maori language
tere – fast, quick
tupuna – ancestors
uku – mud or clay
wahine – woman
wai – water
whakapapa – family tree