Within New Zealand
New Zealand
Interactive Map
New Zealand Interactive Map
New Zealand Video
New Zealand Photos

Language in New Zealand: Maori words and expressions

New Zealand  Language  Maori words and expressions

Full New Zealand Travel Guide »    New Zealand Interactive Map »    Print This Article »

  • Kia Ora - Hello, welcome, literally good health. Often used as an utterance of agreement, especially during speaking at a hui.
  • Haere Mai - A greeting to a person arriving, while Haere Ra is a salutation to one leaving.
  • Hui - A meeting or gathering to discuss and debate issues in traditional Maori fashion.
  • Iwi - A Maori tribe or people, sometimes known as a Waka (canoe), as some iwi are named after the ocean going canoes that brought their ancestors to New Zealand.
  • Koha - A Maori term for gifts or donations. Often an exchange of gifts takes place. (Sometimes the admission signs say, "Entry Koha", meaning gold coin or what you feel like donating.)
  • Kai - Food. Common with both Maori and European.
  • Marae - A traditional Maori meeting or gathering place. Also a community centre.
  • Pakeha - The Maori word for New Zealanders of European decent, generally thought to have arisen from a Maori story about white creatures called 'pakepakeha'. Some European New Zealanders do not refer to themselves as Pakeha, others see the name as part of their unique identity, whilst others find it offensive.
  • Powhiri - A Maori ceremonial welcome. Especially to a marae, but now also may take place at the start of a conference or similar large meeting in New Zealand.
  • Whanau - A Maori (extended) family. Kinfolk.
  • Wharenui - literally big house, is the meeting house on a marae. Used often in advertising to alliterate with friends such as 'friends and whanau'.
  • Wharekai - literally food house, is the dining room and/or kitchen on a marae.
  • Wharepaku - literally Small house or more tongue in cheek "Explode House", - Toilet
Select a section to browse the New Zealand guide
Experience iGuide's remarkable interactive New Zealand travel map
New Zealand Interactive Travel Map
Deals by BookingBuddy   * Taxes and fees may be extra
Recently Added Map Places
Select a place to explore the interactive map
iGuide
Ultimate Travel Search
Find hotels in to
Map  |  Maori words and…  |  Travel Guide  |  Photos  |  Hotels  |  Flights  |  Travel Deals  |  Ultimate Travel Search
iGuide is the world's premier travel mashup and travel map  |  About iGuide
New Zealand: Language: Maori words and expressions is based on work by D. Guillaime, Cedric trounson, Claus Hansen, Eco84, Stefan Ertmann, Chipheater, Burmesedays, iGuide, and others. New Zealand Travel Guide & New Zealand Interactive Map is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0. See background image credits.