List of English words of Maori origin
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Words of (New Zealand) Maori origin have entered many languages. Many such words have entered New Zealand English and are considered native words. Some of those words have in turn been exported from New Zealand English to other branches of the English language and to other languages.
Flora and fauna
The accepted English common names of a number of species of animal and plant endemic to New Zealand are simply their Maori names or a very close equivalent:
- kauri
- a large conifer in the Araucariaceae
- kea
- the alpine parrot
- kiwi
- the bird, a New Zealander, or sometimes (not in New Zealand) the kiwi fruit
- mako
- the shark considered a magnificent fighter by game-fisherman
- moa
- the extinct giant flightless bird
- tuatara
- rare lizard-like reptile, not closely related to any other species currently alive
Placenames
Thousands of Maori placenames (or very close equivalents) are now official; the more prominent are used around the world:
Other words and phrases
- haka
- traditional Maori war-dance, used by New Zealand sports teams when performing internationally to 'intimidate' opponents
- hangi
- traditional feast prepared in earth-oven
- hikoi
- march or walk
- hui
- meeting
- iwi
- tribe
- kai
- meaning "food"; also "kai moana" meaning "sea food"
- kia ora
- a greeting, literally be healthy
- mana
- very roughly, the regard in which someone is held; respect of their authority; reputation
- pa
- a hill fort
- Pakeha
- New Zealander of non-Maori descent, usually European
- pounamu
- Greenstone
- tangata whenua
- literally people of the land, an alternative name for Maori
- tangi
- funeral and/or wake
- taonga
- sacred treasure or gift
- waka
- canoe
- whanau
- family