Te reo Maori glossary — the words you'll see in New Zealand

A reference for the road, not a substitute for the language

This is a glossary for travellers — a lookup resource you can return to while reading the Maori culture overview, planning your visit to Waitangi Treaty Grounds, or trying to work out why so many New Zealand place names feel almost pronounceable but not quite.

Te reo Maori is one of New Zealand’s three official languages. It is not an endangered curiosity or a heritage exhibit — it is a living language spoken daily by over 185,000 people, taught in schools nationwide through kura kaupapa (immersion schools), broadcast on Te Ao Maori News, and woven into every layer of New Zealand public life. Roughly half of all New Zealand place names are Maori, which means learning even a small set of component words suddenly makes signs legible, maps meaningful, and conversations richer.

What this glossary is not: a substitute for studying te reo properly or for the deep cultural grounding that comes from spending time with iwi communities. Some words here carry weight — spiritual, historical, political — that a table cannot fully convey. Where a word has particular cultural significance, I have tried to flag it rather than flatten it.

Use this as a starting point. The words here will serve you well; the knowledge behind them runs far deeper.

Pronunciation basics

Te reo Maori pronunciation is consistent. Learn the rules once and they apply throughout. There are almost no exceptions.

Vowels: Five vowels, always pronounced the same way:

Vowel	Sound	As in English
a	”ah"	"father”
e	”eh"	"bed”
i	”ee"	"feet”
o	”aw"	"caught”
u	”oo"	"boot”

Vowels are never swallowed or reduced. Every vowel in every syllable is fully pronounced. Aotearoa has six syllables: A-o-te-a-ro-a. Maori has three: Ma-o-ri (not “Mow-ree”). This is the single most important thing to get right.

Macrons (tohutō): The line over a vowel (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) lengthens it — hold the sound roughly twice as long. Māori (with macron on the first ‘a’) sounds subtly different from the common English mispronunciation. Where macrons appear in this glossary, they are there for accuracy. In handwriting or casual digital text they are often dropped; in formal and official New Zealand usage, they are standard.

Key consonant rules:

• Wh: Pronounced “f” in most New Zealand dialects. Whanau = “fanau”. Whanganui = “Fanganui”. Some South Island dialects use a softer “w” sound — both are regionally correct.
• Ng: The sound in “sing” — but it can open a syllable. Ngati starts with the “ng” sound, not a silent letter. Practice: say “singing” and drop the “si-”. The remaining sound starts Ngati, Ngapuhi, Ngai Tahu.
• R: A light, tapped ‘r’ — closer to Spanish or the ‘d’ in “butter” (American English) than the English ‘r’. Not rolled heavily.
• H: Always pronounced, never silent.
• Every syllable ends in a vowel. There are no consonant clusters closing syllables. Break words at each vowel: Wha-ka-a-ri, Ro-to-ru-a, Hok-i-an-ga.

Vowel pairs: When two vowels appear side by side, each is its own syllable — no diphthong merging. “ai” = “ah-ee”, “ao” = “ah-aw”, “au” = “ah-oo”. Say them quickly and they will start to sound natural.

Greetings and everyday phrases

These are words you will hear constantly — in shops, on radio, in museum exhibit text, at the start of every school day. They are standard New Zealand English as much as they are te reo Maori, used by all New Zealanders regardless of ethnicity.

Te reo	Pronunciation	Meaning	When to use
Kia ora	Kee-ah oh-rah	Hello / thank you / good health	Universal — use freely
Tena koe	Teh-nah kaw-eh	Formal hello to one person	Formal context, speeches
Tena korua	Teh-nah kaw-roo-ah	Formal hello to two people	Formal context
Tena koutou	Teh-nah kaw-toh	Formal hello to three or more	Opening speeches, marae visits
Haere mai	Hah-reh my	Welcome / come here	Welcoming guests
Nau mai, haere mai	Naw my, hah-reh my	Formal welcome	Powhiri openings
Ka kite	Kah kee-teh	See you later	Casual farewell
Ka kite ano	Kah kee-teh ah-naw	See you again	Warm farewell
Haere ra	Hah-reh rah	Goodbye (to the person leaving)	Farewell
E noho ra	Eh naw-ho rah	Goodbye (to the person staying)	Farewell
Kia kaha	Kee-ah kah-hah	Stay strong	Encouragement, solidarity
Kia manawanui	Kee-ah mah-nah-wah-noo-ee	Be steadfast, have patience	Encouragement
Aroha nui	Ah-roh-hah noo-ee	Much love	Warm closing to messages
Mauri ora	Mah-oo-ree oh-rah	Life force be well	Greeting, affirmation, toast
Ae	Ah-eh	Yes	Casual
Kao	Kah-aw	No	Casual
He aha	Heh ah-hah	What is / what?	Question opener
Miharo	Mee-hah-roh	Wonderful / amazing	Reaction
He pai	Heh pie	It is good	Appreciation
Kia pai to ra	Kee-ah pie taw rah	Have a good day	Farewell
Ko wai tou ingoa?	Kaw why toh ee-ngaw-ah	What is your name?	Introduction
Ko … toku ingoa	Kaw … taw-koo ee-ngaw-ah	My name is …	Introduction

On using these phrases: Kia ora is the one to start with. Use it sincerely when you walk into a shop, meet a guide, or thank someone at a cultural experience. New Zealanders appreciate it every single time. Tena koutou carries more ceremony — you might hear it opening a speech at Waitangi or a marae visit; you do not need to use it yourself in casual contexts.

People and family

Understanding kinship terms matters when visiting cultural experiences where these relationships are central — not as abstract vocabulary but as the actual structure of how Maori communities organise themselves.

Te reo	Pronunciation	Meaning	Notes
Tangata	Tah-ngah-tah	Person / people	Singular and general
Tangata whenua	Tah-ngah-tah feh-noo-ah	People of the land	The indigenous people of a place; do not use casually about yourself as a visitor
Manuhiri	Mah-noo-hee-ree	Visitors / guests	What you are at a powhiri
Iwi	Ee-wee	Tribe	The largest kinship group; there are approximately 60 iwi in New Zealand
Hapu	Hah-poo	Sub-tribe / clan	Subdivision of an iwi
Whanau	Fah-nau	Extended family	Widely used by all New Zealanders: “my whanau is coming”
Rangatira	Rah-ngah-tee-rah	Chief / person of high rank	Leadership; also implies nobility of character
Ariki	Ah-ree-kee	High chief / paramount chief	The most senior rank; used in specific iwi contexts
Tohunga	Toh-hoo-ngah	Expert / specialist / priest	A person of deep skill — in healing, carving, navigation, spiritual practice
Kaumatua	Kow-mah-too-ah	Elder / respected elder	Senior man; in cultural contexts, kaumatua lead speeches
Kuia	Koo-ee-ah	Elder woman	Senior woman; leads karanga at powhiri
Tane	Tah-neh	Man / male	Also the name of the forest deity
Wahine	Wah-hee-neh	Woman / female	Wahine Toa = strong woman
Tamaiti	Tah-my-tee	Child
Tamariki	Tah-mah-ree-kee	Children	Plural
Mokopuna	Maw-kaw-poo-nah	Grandchild / grandchildren	Also sometimes abbreviated to “moko”
Pakeha	Pah-keh-hah	New Zealander of European descent	Not an insult; a neutral descriptor used respectfully
Tauiwi	Tow-ee-wee	Non-Maori / foreigner	More general than Pakeha

Land and place names — the core vocabulary

Roughly half of New Zealand’s place names are Maori, and most of those names describe something real about the landscape — the shape of a hill, the colour of water, a historical event, a founding ancestor. Once you know around twenty component words, large swaths of the map become readable.

Te reo	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example place name
Whenua	Feh-noo-ah	Land / placenta	Aotearoa (“land of the long white cloud”)
Maunga	Mow-ngah	Mountain	Maunga Whau (Mt Eden, Auckland)
Awa	Ah-wah	River / channel	Whanganui = “great awa”
Moana	Moh-ah-nah	Sea / ocean / large lake	Moana Nui a Kiwa (Pacific Ocean)
Roto	Raw-taw	Lake	Rotorua = “second lake”
Motu	Maw-too	Island	Motuihe Island
Ana	Ah-nah	Cave	Waitomo (“water cave”)
Puke	Poo-keh	Hill	Pukekohe (“hill of the kohe tree”)
Tara	Tah-rah	Rocky peak	Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Wai	Why	Water	Waikato = “flowing water”
Tai	Tie	Sea / coast / side	Tairua, Taihape
Ahi	Ah-hee	Fire	Ahipara (“fires of Para”)
Ra	Rah	Sun / day	Raetihi (“the sun’s summit”)
Po	Paw	Night	Opotiki (“the nights”)
Ngahere	Ngah-heh-reh	Forest	Used in compound names
Ara	Ah-rah	Path / road / way	Aramoana (“path on the sea”)
Papa	Pah-pah	Flat / earth / foundation	Papatoetoe, Papatūānuku (Earth Mother)
Repo	Reh-paw	Swamp / marsh	Reproduced in many coastal names
Manga	Mah-ngah	Stream / tributary	Mangakino
Tonga	Taw-ngah	South / south wind	Tongariro = “carried south by the south wind”

Place-name suffixes and what they unlock

These are the building blocks. Once you have them, New Zealand place names become a slow-unfolding map of Maori observation of the landscape.

Suffix/prefix	Meaning	Example	Translation
-roa	Long	Taumaroa, Whangaroa	Long…
-nui	Big / great	Whanganui, Taranui	Great…
-iti / -riti	Small	Whangariti, Waiiti	Small…
-tapu	Sacred / forbidden	Whakatane (adj. Whakatāpu)	Sacred…
roto-	Lake	Rotorua, Rotoiti, Rotoehu	Lake of…
wai-	Water	Waikato, Waikari, Wairarapa	Waters of…
wha- / whan-	Harbour / bay (via whananga)	Whangarei, Whanganui	Great harbour…
te-	The (article)	Te Anau, Te Aroha, Te Kuiti	The…
nga-	The (plural)	Ngaio, Ngamatea	The (many)…
-a-	Of / belonging to	Tāmaki Makaurau = “Tamaki sought by many lovers”	…of…
maunga-	Mountain	Maungatautari	Mountain of…
awa-	River	Awakino, Awatere	River of…
-kai-	Food / eat	Kaikōura = “meal of crayfish”	To eat…
-puke-	Hill	Pukekohe, Pukeiti	Hill of…

Worked examples: Roto-rua = “second lake” (roto + rua). Wai-ka-to = “flowing/tossing water”. Kai-kōura = “eat crayfish” (the first Europeans who landed here found Maori cooking kōura on the shore). Aoraki = “cloud piercer” or, in some readings, “cloud in stillness” — the name of the highest peak in the Southern Alps, also known as Mt Cook.

Understanding these components deepens the itineraries you plan and changes how you read the landscape. When you drive into Queenstown (Tāhuna — “shallow bay”) or arrive at Te Anau, you are reading the same observations the first people to arrive here made, encoded in the name.

Food and gathering

Many of these words appear on menus, at hangi experiences, and in supermarkets. Several are used in standard New Zealand English regardless of context.

Te reo	Pronunciation	Meaning	Notes
Kai	Ky	Food / to eat	”Kai time” is universal New Zealand English
Wai	Why	Water	Also used for any liquid
Hangi	Hah-ngee	Earth oven / the feast cooked in it	Food wrapped in leaves and slow-cooked underground in heated stones; see the hangi experience guide
Kumara	Koo-mah-rah	Sweet potato	A staple crop brought from Polynesia; appears on almost every New Zealand menu
Paua	Pah-oo-ah	Abalone	A large shellfish with iridescent shell; common in NZ seafood; the shell is used in carvings and jewelry
Kina	Kee-nah	Sea urchin	A delicacy — strong flavour, not to everyone’s taste
Kōura	Kaw-rah	Freshwater crayfish / rock lobster	Kaikōura town is named for it
Rewena	Reh-weh-nah	Potato-starter sourdough bread	A distinctly Maori bread made with a fermented potato starter
Pikopiko	Pee-kaw-pee-kaw	Native fern shoots	Eaten as a vegetable, increasingly on fine-dining menus
Kawakawa	Kah-wah-kah-wah	Native pepper tree	Leaves used in karakia and cooking; common in rongoā (traditional medicine)
Manuka	Mah-noo-kah	Tea tree	Manuka honey is internationally famous; also used for rongoā
Harakeke	Hah-rah-keh-keh	Flax	Used for weaving (raranga); the leaves of the harakeke plant represent the whanau
Tuna	Too-nah	Eel	A significant food source and cultural symbol; tuna taniwha (eel spirits) feature in tradition
Inanga	Ee-nah-ngah	Whitebait (juvenile galaxiid fish)	Whitebait fritters are a seasonal New Zealand delicacy; inanga is the species name
Kore	Kaw-reh	Nothing / void	Also the cosmic void in Maori creation narrative — important cultural reference, not only food-related
Hakari	Hah-kah-ree	Feast / celebratory meal	The formal feast that follows ceremony

Culture, beliefs and customs — the words that carry weight

These are not tourist-brochure words. They are concepts with philosophical and spiritual depth. I have used some of them throughout this site and in the marae etiquette guide, but they deserve their own definitions here with the caveat that a glossary entry cannot do justice to a living tradition. What follows is a starting orientation.

Te reo	Pronunciation	Meaning	Cultural weight
Marae	Mah-rah-eh	Traditional meeting ground and ceremonial complex	Not a building — a living community space; see marae etiquette
Wharenui	Fah-reh-noo-ee	Meeting house / carved house	The central building of the marae; its structure represents an ancestor
Wharekai	Fah-reh-ky	Dining hall	Separate from the wharenui; where food (noa) is consumed
Waka	Wah-kah	Canoe	The great voyaging canoes that brought Maori ancestors to New Zealand; genealogical lines trace back to specific waka
Waka hourua	Wah-kah hoh-roo-ah	Double-hulled voyaging canoe	The type used for trans-Pacific navigation
Powhiri	Paw-fee-ree	Formal welcoming ceremony	The protocol for receiving visitors onto a marae
Karanga	Kah-rah-ngah	The vocal call that opens a powhiri	Made by senior women; not performed casually
Whaikorero	Fie-kaw-reh-roh	Formal speech-making	Part of the powhiri; follows the karanga
Waiata	Why-ah-tah	Song / to sing	Songs that follow speeches to consolidate them; also everyday singing
Hongi	Haw-ngee	The pressing of foreheads and noses in greeting	The sharing of breath (ha); one of the most meaningful cultural gestures
Haka	Hah-kah	Ceremonial posture dance	Not only war — haka are performed to welcome, to mourn, to celebrate, to challenge; the All Blacks haka is a specific haka called Ka Mate
Kapa haka	Kah-pah hah-kah	Group performing arts	Competitive cultural performance combining haka, waiata, poi, titititorea
Koha	Kaw-hah	Gift / donation	The visitor’s reciprocal contribution; given freely, not as payment
Tapu	Tah-poo	Sacred / restricted / under spiritual protection	One of the most important concepts in Maori culture; a person, object, or place that is tapu is set apart and must not be violated; the English word “taboo” derives from it
Noa	Naw-ah	Common / free from restriction	The opposite of tapu; food is noa, which is why it cannot enter the tapu wharenui
Mana	Mah-nah	Prestige / authority / spiritual power / standing	A person’s mana is their accumulated authority and spiritual weight; it can be built or diminished by actions
Manaakitanga	Mah-nah-ah-kee-tah-ngah	Hospitality / the ethic of care for guests	The host’s obligation to look after visitors before themselves; a core Maori value
Mauri	Mah-oo-ree	Life force / vital essence	Every living thing has mauri; mauri can be strengthened or damaged
Mauri ora	Mah-oo-ree oh-rah	Life force be well	A greeting and affirmation; used increasingly as a closing toast
Atua	Ah-too-ah	Spiritual being / ancestor deity	Includes figures like Tane (forest/birds), Tangaroa (sea), Rongo (cultivation), Whiro (darkness)
Papatūānuku	Pah-pah-too-ah-noo-koo	Earth Mother	The personification of the earth; in creation narratives, she and Ranginui (Sky Father) are the primordial parents
Ranginui	Rah-ngee-noo-ee	Sky Father	The sky, personified
Taniwha	Tah-nee-fah	Water spirit / guardian spirit	Can be protective or dangerous; associated with rivers, lakes, and dangerous places
Taonga	Tah-aw-ngah	Treasure / something of value	Physical taonga (carvings, greenstone, weavings) and intangible taonga (te reo Maori itself is a taonga); protected under the Treaty
Korowai	Kaw-raw-why	Cloak (traditionally of feathers or flax)	A korowai is one of the most significant taonga; presented to mark high status
Ta moko	Tah maw-kaw	Traditional Maori tattooing	Deeply personal; each moko encodes genealogy, rank, and identity; not to be replicated as decoration
Raranga	Rah-rah-ngah	Weaving	The art of flax weaving; a skilled practice with its own protocols
Whakairo	Fah-ky-raw	Carving	Particularly the carving of the wharenui
Tino rangatiratanga	Tee-naw rah-ngah-tee-rah-tah-ngah	Self-determination / sovereignty	The term used in the Maori text of the Treaty of Waitangi; politically significant
Karakia	Kah-rah-kee-ah	Ritual incantation / prayer	Used to open and close activities, sanctify food, mark significant moments
Tohu	Taw-hoo	Sign / omen / symbol	Also used for macron (tohu — the mark)

Time, seasons and ceremony

Te reo	Pronunciation	Meaning	Notes
Matariki	Mah-tah-ree-kee	The Pleiades star cluster / Maori new year	A public holiday in New Zealand since 2022; celebrated June-July (date varies by year); see the Matariki festival guide
Mahuru	Mah-hoo-roo	Spring	September-November in New Zealand (southern hemisphere)
Raumati	Rah-oo-mah-tee	Summer	December-February; peak tourist season
Hotoke	Haw-taw-keh	Winter	June-August; ski season, Fiordland at its most dramatic
Koanga	Kaw-ah-ngah	Spring (alternate term)	Used regionally
Ra	Rah	Sun / day
Po	Paw	Night
Wiki	Wee-kee	Week	From English “week” — many modern te reo words adapt English
Hui	Hoo-ee	Gathering / meeting	”Hui” is used in standard NZ English: “we had a hui about it”
Tangihanga	Tah-ngee-hah-ngah	Funeral / mourning ceremony	A tangihanga (or tangi) can last several days; visitors may be invited
Poroporoaki	Paw-raw-paw-rah-kee	Farewell ceremony	The formal goodbye
Hakari	Hah-kah-ree	Celebratory feast	The meal that follows ceremony
Wero	Weh-raw	Challenge / warrior challenge	The formal challenge issued to visitors before a powhiri; a warrior places an object at the visitors’ feet
Waitangi Day	Why-tah-ngee day	6 February — national day	Commemorates the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi
Anzac Day	(English)	25 April — remembrance	Uses the Maori concept of manaakitanga in its community gatherings

How to use these words without overstepping

There is a distinction between respectful use and appropriation, and it is worth naming directly.

Do try: Kia ora, haere mai, ka kite, ae, kao — these are in everyday New Zealand use, appreciated from visitors, and carry no cultural restriction.

Do pronounce correctly: An attempt with correct pronunciation is more respectful than a confident mispronunciation. If you have read this far, you can pronounce Kia ora, Rotorua, and Aotearoa well. That alone sets you apart from most visitors.

Do ask: If you are at a marae visit or cultural experience and want to know more about a word’s meaning or usage — ask. Maori people overwhelmingly welcome genuine curiosity. The question “what does that word mean?” is never rude.

Be careful with: Tapu, mana, tohunga, ta moko, rangatira — these carry specific cultural weight and should not be thrown around casually. Using “mana” to mean “cool” (common in some NZ English slang) is not wrong, but be aware of its full register.

Do not: Appropriate iwi-specific terminology that you have not been invited to use. Each iwi has dialect variations, specific terms for their own traditions, and words that belong to their specific ceremonial context. The glossary here is a broad national baseline — it does not include the full depth of any one iwi’s knowledge.

On te reo revitalisation: Te reo Maori was actively suppressed in New Zealand schools until the 1970s. The language’s current health — it is now in a much stronger position than a generation ago — is the result of decades of sustained community effort, including the kōhanga reo (language nest) movement that began in 1982. When you learn a few words and use them respectfully, you are, in a small way, participating in that revitalisation.

Where to hear and learn te reo in context

The most effective way to hear te reo Maori used naturally is through cultural immersion. A formal cultural experience at Rotorua’s cultural village or a powhiri at Waitangi gives you a live context for the words you have read here — the karanga, the whaikorero, the waiata all happen in sequence and you can track the terms as they unfold.

Online resources worth bookmarking:

• Te Aka Maori Dictionary (maoridictionary.co.nz) — the authoritative online dictionary with audio pronunciation for every entry
• Te Wiki o te Reo Maori — the annual Maori Language Week (held in September) with free resources
• Te Ao Maori News (teaomaori.news) — news in te reo Maori and bilingual content
• Kupu app — point your phone camera at an object and get the te reo Maori word for it; made by Te Papa

Frequently asked questions

Is te reo Maori dying out?

No — and this is one of the most important corrections to make. Te reo Maori faced genuine endangerment through the 20th century, when speaking it in schools was prohibited and social pressure drove it from public life. But since the kōhanga reo movement began in 1982, the language has been in sustained revival. Today there are over 185,000 speakers and growing, kura kaupapa immersion schools in most major cities, te reo on radio and television (Radio Waatea, Maori Television, Te Ao Maori News), and the language appears in every branch of government. It is an official language of New Zealand with legal standing. The work is ongoing, but the trajectory is recovery, not decline.

Should I learn te reo before I go to New Zealand?

Learning ten to twenty words before you arrive is enough to make a genuine difference. You do not need a course or fluency — you need correct pronunciation of the place names you will visit and a handful of greetings. The te reo basics guide will get you there in thirty minutes. If you want to go further, the Pimsleur Maori audio course or an online kōrero Maori resource can give you conversational basics in a few weeks.

How do I say “thank you” correctly?

The most natural option is kia ora — it means hello, thank you, and “good health” simultaneously. For a more specific “thank you” you can say “kia ora koe” (kee-ah oh-rah kaw-eh) — literally “good health to you.” Both are correct. Maori culture traditionally emphasised reciprocity through action (koha, manaakitanga) rather than verbal thanks — the words have absorbed that warmth.

Are place names pronounced “right” by Pakeha New Zealanders?

Honestly, not always. Some place names have been anglicised for over a century and the Maori pronunciation is rarely heard in casual use. Wanganui (often said “Wonga-noo-ee” by locals rather than “Fanganui”) is a well-known example. Taupo is frequently said “Taw-poh” rather than “Tah-oo-poh.” The trend in New Zealand media and official use has moved firmly toward more accurate pronunciation, particularly with place names restored on maps and signage. Visitors who make the effort to use closer-to-correct pronunciation are usually met with appreciation, not correction.

Why do some letters have lines over them?

The line over a vowel is called a macron (tohutō in te reo). It indicates a long vowel — held for roughly twice the duration of a short vowel. Māori (with macron on first a) is subtly different from a short-a pronunciation. Tāhuna (the Maori name for Queenstown) has a long first vowel. Macrons are now standard in official New Zealand usage and appear in all major dictionaries, school resources, and government publications. In informal writing they are often dropped — which can occasionally cause confusion, since the same letters with and without a macron can indicate different words.

What does Aotearoa mean?

The most common translation is “Land of the Long White Cloud.” The literal breakdown: Ao = cloud / world, tea = white / clear, roa = long. The full phrase appears in traditional oral literature referring to the clouds above New Zealand visible from arriving waka on the ocean horizon. Alternative readings exist — some scholars translate it more closely as “Land of the Long Bright World” or “Long Bright Cloud World” — but the “long white cloud” translation is the one universally used and understood.

What is the difference between iwi, hapu, and whanau?

These three terms describe nested levels of kinship. Whanau is the extended family unit — parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, anyone connected by blood or by adoption into the family. Hapu is a sub-tribe — a cluster of whanau who share a common ancestor and identify as a community unit; hapu are the politically active unit in traditional Maori society. Iwi is the tribe — a cluster of hapu sharing broader common ancestry and identity. There are approximately 60 recognised iwi in New Zealand. Ngai Tahu, for example, is the dominant iwi of the South Island; Ngapuhi is the largest iwi in the North Island. When someone says “which iwi are you from?” they are asking about this genealogical connection.

Is it okay to get a ta moko (traditional Maori tattoo)?

Ta moko is not decorative tattooing. Each moko is a personal record of genealogy, rank, accomplishments, and identity — it is a sacred identifier that belongs to a specific person and their whakapapa (genealogy). Non-Maori getting ta moko is generally considered cultural appropriation. Some Maori tattoo artists offer “kirituhi” — surface-inspired designs for non-Maori that draw on Maori aesthetic tradition without encoding specific genealogical meaning. If you are interested, seek out a Maori artist and have a direct conversation about what is appropriate. Do not get a ta moko-style tattoo from a non-Maori artist without this conversation.

---

Expand your knowledge

This glossary gives you the working vocabulary. For deeper cultural context, the guides below go further:

• Te reo Maori basics for travelers — pronunciation rules, essential phrases, place name meanings
• Marae etiquette for visitors — how to behave at a powhiri, what tapu means in practice
• Maori culture overview — history, arts, living culture from arrival to today
• Matariki festival guide — the Maori new year, now a public holiday
• Hangi experience guide — the earth oven feast, who does it well, what to expect
• Waitangi Treaty Grounds — where the Treaty was signed in 1840; essential context
• Rotorua guide — the best place in New Zealand for immersive cultural experiences