| Ahi kā |
Occupation, land rights, continued occupation, properly ahi kaa roa “long burning fires’; one of the most important elements of traditional law of Māori land tenure |
| Ana |
Cave, burrow, lair |
| Atua |
Deity, indicating categories of responsibilities in the natural world of Māori |
| Hapū |
Sub tribe, clan, section of a large tribe |
| Iwi |
Tribe |
| Kaimoana |
Seafood, especially shellfish |
| Kaitiaki |
Guardians, custodians |
| Kaitiakitanga |
The exercise of guardianship by the tangata whenua of an area in accordance with tikanga māori in relation to natural and physical resources; and includes the ethic of stewardship |
| Kanohi ki te kanohi |
Face to face or eye to eye |
| Kawa |
Protocol |
| Kāwanatanga |
Governance, relating to the exchange of gifts enshrined in the Treaty of Waitangi |
| Ki Uta Ki Tai |
From the mountains to the sea |
| Kōiwi tangata |
Human skeletal remains |
| Kōrero pūrākau |
Myths, stories |
| Moroori |
Indigenous people of the Chatham Islands. Located of the coast of Canterbury |
| Mahinga kai |
Food and places for obtaining natural foods and resources. The work (mahi), methods and cultural activities involved in obtaining foods and resources. |
| Mana |
Integrity, respect, prestige, authority |
| Manaakitanga |
Support, caring and hospitality, for example as shown towards guests |
| Manawhenua |
Traditional/customary authority or title over land and the rights of ownership and control of usage on the land, forests rivers etc. Also the land area (and boundaries - rohē) within which such authority is held |
| Māori |
People - used to distinguish the native, indigenous people of New Zealand |
| Mātaitai |
Traditional fishing area |
| Marae |
Traditional Māori open meeting ground. All important matters affecting an iwi must be discussed, and ultimately decided, in their own traditionally recognised marae |
| Mauri |
Life supporting capacity, spiritual essence |
| Mōkihi |
Raft |
| Ngāi Tahu |
Recognised tangata whenua in the South Island excluding the northern part of the island. |
| Ngāi Tahu Whānui |
The entire Ngāi Tahu tribe, including Ngāti Mamoe and Ngāi Tahu and all their hapū |
| Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki |
One of the primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha |
| Ngāi Tūāhuriri |
One of the primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha |
| Ngāti Hurirapa |
One of the primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha |
| Ngāti Irakehu |
One of the primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha |
| Ngāti Kuri |
One of the primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe and Waitaha |
| Ngāti Mamoe |
One of the primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu Whānui |
| Nohoanga |
Temporary campsite (stopover) for seasonal gathering of food and resources - refers to traditional areas used by Ngāi Tahu as tangata whenua in pursuit of food and other natural resources established by the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 |
| Pā |
Fortified village |
| Papakāinga |
A form of housing development which occurs
on multiply-owned Maori or ancestral land. Traditionally, the literal meaning of papakāinga housing is, ‘a nurturing place to return to’ |
| Papatipu rūnanga |
Local representative groups. A Māori equivalent of local government formed to protect and defend the rangatiratanga, the tūrangawaewae, and the cultural and social values of their members. Canterbury papatipu rūnanga are outlined in the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Act 1996 |
| Pounamu |
Greenstone, nephrite, New Zealand jade |
| Rāhui |
Restriction, reservation/exclusion under tribal authority and marker warning of this. Also a statement that a resource is being actively managed |
| Rangatiratanga |
Chieftainship |
| Rohē |
Territory or boundaries of tribal groups |
| Rongoā |
Medicine, antidote, drug (medicinal) |
| Taiāpure |
Local fisheries areas. They can be established over areas of special significance to tangata whenua. |
| Takiwhā |
Area |
| Taonga |
Treasures possessions, material or abstract (e.g language); Māori interest in these is protected by the Treaty of Waitangi and New Zealand statute and common lore/law |
| Taonga raranga |
Plants which produce material highly prized for use in weaving |
| Tangāta whenua |
In relation to a particular area, means the iwi, or hapu that holds mana whenua over that area |
| Tauranga waka |
Canoe landing sites |
| te reo |
Māori language |
| Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu |
Recognised iwi authority representing the tribal collective of Ngāi Tahu Whānui – as established by the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Act 1996 |
| Te Tiriti o Waitangi |
The Treaty of Waitangi |
| Tikanga (Māori) |
Rights, customs, accepted protocol, rule, Māori traditions, lore or law, the correct Māori way. |
| Tipuna |
Ancestors, descendents |
| Te taha hinengaro |
The mind |
| Te taha tinana |
The body |
| Te taha Wairua |
The spirit |
| Tohu |
Markers such as landmarks, mountains, mountain ranges and some trees |
| Tōpuni |
Derives from the traditional Ngāi Tahu custom of persons of rangatira (chiefly) status extending their mana and protection over an area or person by placing their cloak over them or it. |
| Tuhituhi o neherā |
Rock drawing sites |
| Turangawaewae |
Home, sense of place, belonging, connection |
| Urupā |
Burial place, cemetery, places where Māori bury their dead, often enclosed. |
| Wāhi taonga |
Places of sacred or extreme importance |
| Wāhi tapu |
Scared places |
| Wairua Māori |
Māori perspective |
| Waipuna |
Spring of water |
| Waitaha |
One of the primary hapū of Ngāi Tahu Whānui |
| Wairua |
Spirit, soul, attitude |
| Waiwhakaheke tūpāpaku |
Water burial sites |
| Whakairo |
Carve, engrave |
| Whakataukī |
Proverbial saying |
| Whānau |
Family (extended) |
| Whanaungatanga |
Relationship, kinship |
| Whānui |
Large grouping |
| Whenua |
Land, country |