Authors: Keri Hulme
The Bone People (72 page)
Rupahu = nonsense
Haere, mou tai ata, moku tai ahiahi = Go, the morning tide for
you, the evening tide for me (an old saying)
E kui = a term of address and respect to an aged woman
Mokopuna=grandchild
Mauri/Mauriora = Life principle, thymos of humans; talisman or material symbol of that secret and
mysterious principle protecting the mana (power/vitality) of people, birds, land, forests, whatever...
Tangi = weep, mourn
Tauranga atua = resting place for a god Kiwa=god, also very old name for Pacific Haere=Go
E pou = affectionate term of respect for an old person
Moko= facial tattoo pattern, sometimes used as a signature
in the old days
Tipuna = grandfather/mother
Pouwhenua = a long spear-club Whare= house
Pakihi = a term for a swampy acidic barren type of land Kai = food
Aotearoa = the shining bright land, an old name for New
Zealand
Karakia = prayers, sacred chants
Rahui = boundary markers, essentially tapu
Kia koa koe = wishing you joy
Hoha = fuss, nuisance
E taku hei piripiri, E tawhiri= endearments for children
Whanau = extended family group -- a general term for 'family' now
E nga iwi o nga iwi = this is a pun. It means, O the bones of the people (where 'bones' stands for ancestors or
relations), or, O the people of the bones (i.e. the beginning people, the people who make another people)
Weka = hensized bird with inordinate curiosity. Tastes good, too.
Kehua= ghosts
Karanga = call of invitation, welcome, mourning, onto a
marae
Kei whea? = Where?
Whakautua mai tenei patai aku = Answer this question of
mine
He aha koe i karanga ai ki a au? What did you call me for?
Did you call me?
He aha te mahi e mea nei koe kia mahia? = What do you want
me to do?
Ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea = it is dawn, it is dawn, it is
Te mutunga -- ranei te take = the end -- or the beginning
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