Hongi– a traditional greeting where noses are pressed together.
Mana– a person’s prestige or influence.Their status.
Taniwha– a dragon from Maori mythology.Some—water dragons—live in lakes, rivers or the sea.Legend says a taniwha lives at every bend of a river.Other taniwha are cave dwellers and have the ability to fly.Some are benevolent while others are mischievous tricksters or true villains.
Tohunga ta moko– An expert in tattooing.
Pohutukawa– New Zealand tree that bears scarlet flowers at Christmastime.
Hone– Maori for John, and a very common Christian name.
Manu– Maori, meaning man of the birds or a person held in high esteem.
Wirihana– Name.Wilson.
Utu– To repay or avenge.
Aotearoa– Maori name for New Zealand (Land of the Long White Cloud)
Piupiu– a garment made of flax.It also means to move, swing or sway, which is what the dried flax does when a piupiu is worn.
Haka– a ceremonial dance.Often associated with war to stir passion for the coming battle.If you’re a rugby fan, you’ll see the haka performed by the All Blacks before each international game.Facial features can be contorted and tongue poked out as part of the rhythmic performance.
Tohunga– an expert in their chosen field.
Waka– a canoe.
Hangi– an earth oven where the food is steamed in the ground.Heated rocks are used to produce the heat for cooking.
Kumara– sweet potato.
Mere– a flat club, often made from greenstone.
Taiaha– a wooden staff used as a weapon.These days used in ceremonial greetings.
Kai– food.
Piwakawaka– a small insect-eating bird with a tail that resembles a fan.
Waiata– a song.
Ure– Cock
Moko– traditional tattoos on the face.
Tamariki- children
Kahurangi– Maori, meaning sky blue or precious.
Star-Crossed With Scarlett
Shelley Munro
Munro Press
Star-CrossedwithScarlett
Copyright © 2025 by Shelley Munro
