We recently worked with the wonderful people at the Te Murumāra Foundation on the re-hosting and upgrades to their website, the Māori Dictionary, as well as the redevelopment of the Te Aka Māori Dictionary app.
During this time, we all had a great opportunity to explore the app and website and along the way, we’ve been able to learn some new te reo Māori words and phrases. So we wanted to share with you some of our new favourites.
Whai ā Te Waka
Paddle your own canoe. A bit like saying fill your boots. A delightful description, apt for someone who beats to the sound of their own drum.
Mā Te Wā
See you later. Be careful with this one—a long "ā" sound is crucial. Otherwise, this friendly expression could be mistaken for a reference to death, a lesson in pronunciation you only need to learn once.
Kaitiakitanga
This powerful concept refers to the process and practice of protecting and looking after the environment for future generations. A Kaitiaki is a guardian of the sky, sea, and land, capturing a core part of Māori culture and values.
Less Hui, More Do-y
A hui is to hold a meeting or discussion. This expression is a wonderful amalgamation of Māori and English, to mean less talk and more doing. Strictly speaking, not an ‘official’ phrase, but a satisfying quip for when you find yourself in an onslaught of meetings and want to signal less talk and more action.
How Well Can You Kōrero?
Language is an integral part of culture and identity. No matter how well you can kōrero (speak), mōhio (understand), and tuhi (write) in te reo Māori, there’s always room to ako (learn) and become more fluent. Initiatives such as the Te Whanake Māori Language learning series and Māori Language Week seek a resurgence of te reo Māori across Aotearoa.
Results from the 2018’s Te Kupenga (Māori wellbeing survey) conducted by Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa showed that about 1 in 6 Māori adults can speak fluently in te reo Māori and about 30% can understand the language.1 Fluency rates among non-Māori are around 1%.2
Supporting the Mission
This is the mission of the team at the Te Murumāra Foundation: to support learners of Māori and grow fluency. For our team, this project was a powerful reminder that technology can play a vital role in preserving and promoting culture. It was a privilege to support the Māori Dictionary with their website and app, and to help them in their mission to ensure te reo Māori thrives for generations to come.
