WHAKATAUKĪ / WHAKATAUĀKĪ
ME MAHI TAHI TĀTOU MO TE ORANGA O TE WHĀNAU
He pātai, he kōrero, he whakaaro – Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
In celebration of Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori we invited our community to share a favourite Whakataukī / Whakatauākī or saying.
Whakataukī / Whakatauākī are powerful expressions of wisdom, often rooted in historical and cultural and regional significance. They play a vital role in te reo Māori, helping us convey deep meaning and emotion, especially in formal settings like whaikōrero. The key distinction between a whakatauākī and the related term whakataukī is that the speaker or author of the whakatauākī is known, whereas for a whakataukī, the origin is unknown or unstated.
COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!
Nurture the seed and it will blossom. (Often used to describe encouragement or growth, for example: providing a nurturing environment for tamariki to grow into their full potential)
Truth, integrity, love at all times. (Tika - what is right, just, fair doing what is right. PONO - To be true, valid, honest, genuine. AROHA - Love or to love, sympathy, compassion and empathy
Believe in yourself. (Take hold of the truth, sincerity, what is right)
Mana is the health of the land, the health of the rivers, the health of the people (Speaking to the fact that in te ao māori, everything is connected)
Shoot for the stars and you might hit the moon ( Pursue excellence and if you should surrender may it be to a lofty mountain)
Speak the language at all times / constantly. (Often set as a wero / challenge to preserve our reo)
(TŪWHITIA TE HOPO MAIRANGATIA TE ANGITŪ)
Feel the fear and do it anyway. (Banish the fear / anxiety / apprehension to elevate the success or achievement)
