Guardian of the Dead (48 page)

GLOSSARY

New Zealand has three official languages: English, M
ori, and New Zealand Sign Language. M
ori is a language for study as a first or second language at many schools and tertiary institutions, but a number of M
ori words are commonly understood, and are not unusual for even non-speakers (like Ellie) to use in everyday circumstances.

If you want to learn more about the language, I recommend K
rero M
ori (
http://www.korero.maori.nz
/) as an excellent starting point.

Haka
: Traditional group dance, performed by men, women, or mixed groups, accompanied by chanted words. Many schools and institutions have their own official
haka
; the most well-known internationally is probably the one most often performed by the New Zealand rugby team before international matches.

Hongi:
A greeting where the noses are pressed against each other, signifying respect and welcome with the sharing of breath.

Iwi:
A M
ori people, analogous to a tribe, usually made up of various
hapu
, or sub-tribes. Each iwi claims ancestry to one of the original
waka
(canoes) that carried the first settlers.

Kapa haka:
A performance displaying traditional M
ori performance skills, including
haka
,
poi
dancing, and several styles of singing.
Kapa haka
groups comprise individuals linked in some way (for instance by family, by iwi or institution) and exist in many high schools.

Kaum
tua:
A respected elder, chosen by the people, with great status, wisdom, and expertise in at least one area of traditional knowledge, such as genealogy or oratory.

Kia ora:
Literally ‘be healthy,' this is a fairly informal greeting, the equivalent of ‘Hi.'

Koru:
Literally, an unfurling new fern frond.
Koru
patterns, important in M
ori and M
ori-influenced art, echo this curved shape.

Marae:
A meeting place, central to community life and identity. Various protocols and instances of tapu surround the proper use of the marae complex.

Mere:
A short, teardrop-shaped club, carved from bone, wood, or stone. Mere made from greenstone are especially valuable.

Moko:
Moko are traditional tattoos, most often applied to the face, thighs, and buttocks (men) and chin and lips (women), by a tattoo machine or in the traditional
t
moko
method, which involves slicing the skin in patterns and rubbing pigment into the cuts. They can convey ancestry, status, and the completion of rites of passage. Non-M
ori traditionally cannot wear or apply moko; ‘tribal' styles that are aesthetically influenced by ta moko are actually
kiri tuhi
(‘skin art') designs.