Glossary for the te ao kori resource collection
A | H | I | K | M | N | P | R | T | U | W
A
Ako – to teach and to learn
Āta tū – standing still
Āwhi – caring
Āwhina – helping, assisting, befriending, providing moral support
H
Hakuturi – forest guardian
Hanariki – mischievous
Hapū – sub-tribe
Harakeke – flax
Hauora – wellbeing
Haututū – playful
He hokinga whakaaro – reflecting
Hei tama tū tama – a hand game
Hihī – hissing
Hīhiko – flashing
Hipitoitoi – a hand game
Hope – hands on hips
Hukurau – trickster
Hurihuri – turn around
I
Ihuroa – curious
Īwi – tribe
K
Ka pai – Good! well done
Kaea – leader
Kaiako – teacher/facilitator
Kanikani – dance
Kapa – straight line formation, moving forward as one
Kapa haka – performance group
Karakia – prayer
Kaupapa – strategy, theme
Ki raro – down
Ki runga – up
Ki te taha – to the side
Ki waenganui – between
Kia mau – take your stance
Kia rite – get ready
Kia tau – stop
Kia wiri – start quivering your hands
Kei raro – down
Kei runga – up
Ko te Hau Ore – The Wind of Life
Kohia – gather
Kōpere – rainbow
Kōrero – speak
Koru – spiral
Kotahitanga – working as one
Kōwhaiwhai – painted scroll ornamentation
Kuru/a – throw
M
Mahi whai – string games
Mahi-ā-ngākau – work of the heart
Mana – integrity
Mana atua – power from the spiritual powers
Mana tangata – power from people
Mana whenua – power from the land
Manaakitanga – hospitality and generosity
Manu aute – kite making
Manu taratahi – kite
Manuhiri – visitors, guests
Matau – right
Mauī – left
Me pēnei – like this
Mōhio – clever
Moko – tattooing on the face or body
Muramura – flaming
N
Ngā kupu – words
Ngā mahi a te rēhia – games and pastimes
Ngā mahi poi - poi activities
Ngā ringaringa – hands
Nga waewae – feet/legs
Nga whatu/karu – eyes
Ngā whetū – stars
Ngahau – entertaining
Ngāhere – forest
Ngaru – wave
Ngunguru – roaring, rumbling
Niniha – glowing
P
Pāhekoheko – pair/combination
Pakepake – sparkling
Pakipaki – clap
Papatūānuku – Earth Mother
Pātiki – diamond
Peke – jump
Piupiu – to oscillate, move to and fro, wave about
Poi ki raro – poi stop and by your side
Poi kia mau – poi get ready
Poi porotiti – poi spin
Poipoitia – poi whirl and slap (as in spin and slap your hand)
Poi tapatapa – poi slap, slap (as in a rhythm or beat)
Potaka – top
Poutama – steps
Poutoti – stilts
Pūkana – open the eyes wide and dilate the pupils (men and women)
Pura pura whetū – criss-cross
Pūtōrino – flute
R
Rangimarie – tolerance, being at peace with oneself and the environment
Ranginui – Sky Father
Rau – leaf
Raupō – bulrush
Rere āmio – circling
Rere atu – fly away
Rere hāro – soaring
Rere mai – fly to me
Rere piko – curving
Rere raro – fly below
Rere runga – fly above
Rere tītaha – swerving
Rere topa – swooping
Rere tūpou – diving
Ringa whiua – swing arms across body, elbows bent at waist height
Rito – centre shoot or heart of a monocotyledonous plant, such as flax
Rongo – listen
Ruru – pick up
T
Taha hinengaro – mental and emotional wellbeing
Taha tinana – physical wellbeing
Taha wairua – spiritual wellbeing
Taha whānau – social wellbeing
Taiaha – long club
Taihoa – wait
Takahi ki mua – move forwards
Takahi ki te taha matau (katau) – move to the right
Takahi ki te taha mauī – move to the left
Takahi whakamuri – move backwards
Takahia – trample, stamp
Tākaro ā-ringa – hand games
Takutaku – chant
Tangata whenua – local people
Tāne Mahuta – guardian of the forest
Tapu – sacred, forbidden
Tautoko – support
Te ao kori – the world of movement
Te ārero – tongue
Te heketau te tauira – parachute pattern
Te ihi – inner feelings
Te kapu me te hoiha – cup and saucer
Te reo kori – the language of movement
Te taiao – natural environment
Te tinana – body
Te wairua – spirit
Teina – younger
Tī rākau – stick
Tihore – to clear away
Tīmata – start, begin
Tira – stick
Toetoe – sedge grass
Toi puoro – music
Tuakana – older
Tūpoupou – plunging
U
Uira – lightning
W
Waewae takahia – start stamping your right foot
Waiata – song
Waiata-ā-ringa – action songs
Wairua – spirit
Wawāhi-tahā – breaker of rules
Wero – challenge
Whai – string games
Whai-pūkenga – skilful
Whakamahana tinana – warm-up
Whakamataku – frightening
Whakapapa – history and protocols
Whakaropiropi ai – hand game
Whakataukī – proverb
Whana – step and kick
Whānau – family group
Whātero – sticking out the tongue (men only)
Wiri – quivering of the hands
Wiriwiri – shuddering