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