Maaori Words in New Zealand English


Kauri

Kauri - Agathus Australis - is an extremely large tree.

Kowhai

Kowhai - Sophora Tetraptera , is also a tree, of more modest dimensions, and with yellow flowers.

Kahawai

Kahawai is a fish common in coastal water around N.Z.

Kumara

A Sweet potato, originally of South American Origin, introduced to N.Z. during the first wave of Polynesian colonisation around 800AD.

Kai

Food (better defn later)

Hangi

Method of cooking buy burial with heated rocks. Usually only done for special occasions, now. (better defn later)

Pakeha

by brian_d@sideways.welly.gen.nz (Brian Dooley)

That noble publication "An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand", published by the Government Printer, 1966, editor A H McLintock, 3 volumes (a steal at 7 pounds 10 shillings), says that the original meaning and derivation are obscure. It gives the following four possible derivations, the first being the most probable.

  1. From pakepakeha: imaginary beings resembling men.
  2. From pakehakeha: one of the sea gods.
  3. From keha: a flea.
  4. From poaka: a pig.

It defines pakeha as a Maori term for the white inhabitants of New Zealand and says that the word was in vogue prior to 1815. It further says that the word was in no sense derogatory.

Plus: A note by Lyndon Watson (L.Watson@csc.canterbury.ac.nz)

It's a wonder to me that people can seriously offer derivations 3 and 4 without explaining the unlikely liguistic transition from "keha" to "pakeha" and even more unlikely transition from "poaka" to "pakeha". The "maori/pakepakeha" contrast (between "ordinary" and supernatural men or manlike beings) seems so natural and obvious...
More from Brian Dooley (I will probably reorganise this after the discussion settles down -mjw)

The same publication quotes Williams as giving the word "maori" (or maaori if you prefer) the meaning "normal", "usual", "ordinary" applied when talking of birds, trees, dogs, or men. Thus originally "maori tangata" meant "an ordinary man", which the ancient Maori (if he called himself anything at all) would have called himself. "Early European visitors in their crude way" (sic) abbreviated this to "Maori".

My suggestion with reference to "pakeha" (and knowing bugger all about it) is that either (1) or (2) above could have been shortened in the same way, not by the Maori but by the Europeans and then passed back into Maori usage as being what pakehas called themselves.

I can't think of an example of the top of my head but I am sure that some English words have passed into other languages and then come back into English with a somewhat changed form and meaning. --

More Fom Lachy Paterson

Most Maori words have a variety of meanings. Although pakeha can mean flea (not smell), the most reasonable derivation is "pakepakeha" with a macron over the first or last syllable. It is the same as patupaierehe, the fair skinned supernatural race (fairies), which the Maori occasionally bred with. The race was of potential danger to the Maori race.

It is probably not a bad analogy, although the term is not used in a negative manner per se by Maori, so I don't think anyone is getting away with anything when using it.

I am quite proud to be a pakeha.

L.Paterson