NCEA Level 2 Te Reo Rangatira key terms

High-status, formal register of Māori used in oratory, formal speechmaking and written composition. It features elevated vocabulary, idiom and figurative language rather than everyday conversational style.

A traditional proverb or saying passed down through generations, used to sum up a situation, offer guidance or add weight to a speech. Often drawn from ancestors, events or the natural world.

A proverb attributed to a named person or ancestor, unlike a general whakataukī. The speaker may name its origin to support a point in formal speech.

A formulaic statement of identity naming one's mountain, river, tribe, sub-tribe, meeting house and ancestors. Used to introduce oneself formally and connect the speaker to land and people.

A greeting or speech of introduction delivered at the start of a formal gathering. It acknowledges the hosts, the dead and the living before the main topic is addressed.

A simile or metaphorical comparison in which one thing is likened to another, often using 'rite' or 'pēnei'. A staple device of poetic and oratorical Māori expression.

A descriptive or figurative word, including adjectives and imagery used to paint a picture. In analysis, identifying kupu āhua helps show how tone and mood are created.

A colloquial expression or idiom used in everyday speech, such as an exclamation or casual turn of phrase. It contrasts with formal reo rangatira and signals informal register.

Genealogy or line of descent linking a person to ancestors, tribes and land. Reciting whakapapa establishes identity, rights and relationships and is central to formal speech.

A large kinship group or tribe made up of related hapū, sharing ancestry, territory and identity. Iwi affiliation is commonly stated in pepeha and formal introductions.

A sub-tribe or smaller kinship group within an iwi, usually tracing descent from a common ancestor and associated with particular land and a marae.

The open area in front of a meeting house where formal welcomes and speeches take place, and by extension the whole communal complex including the wharenui.

The carved meeting house on a marae, whose structure symbolises an ancestor. It hosts formal gatherings, sleeping and discussion, and its carvings carry tribal narratives.

A formal welcome ceremony on a marae involving challenge, speeches, songs and the hongi. Its stages follow a set order and each has associated vocabulary and protocol.

The ritual challenge performed by a warrior during a pōwhiri, laying down a token to test the visitors' intentions. It is followed by the karanga and speeches.

The high-pitched ceremonial call performed by women to welcome visitors onto the marae. It marks the start of the pōwhiri and carries poetic, often ancestral, language.

The traditional greeting in which two people press noses and foreheads, symbolising the sharing of breath and life force. It concludes the formal welcome.

A song, often sung after a speech to support or conclude it. Traditional waiata carry historical narrative, lament or praise and use poetic, figurative language.

Carving, especially the carved panels and figures of a meeting house. The carvings encode ancestors, genealogies and tribal history, so they are read alongside oral texts.

The flow or sequence of a speech or narrative, including how ideas are ordered and linked. Recognising structure helps a listener follow formal oratory.

Speech, talk, discussion or a narrative. As a verb it means to speak or tell, and it appears in many compound expressions relating to communication and storytelling.

A traditional story or legend, often explaining origins, values or natural features. Pūrākau are used in formal contexts to illustrate a point or preserve history.

A significant or meaningful word, or a word used with special force in a text. Identifying tākupu helps in discussing diction and emphasis in literary analysis.

A word, term or vocabulary item. It is the base for many compounds such as kupu āhua and kupu whakarite, so recognising it aids vocabulary building.

A sentence or clause, literally a spoken expression. Understanding its structure - subject, verb, particles - is essential for reading and writing formal Māori prose.

A verb, literally a 'work word'. Recognising verbs and their particles is needed for correct sentence construction and for analysing action in a text.

A noun, literally a 'name word'. Nouns and their determiners and particles form the core of Māori sentences, so identifying them supports accurate translation.

A noun in grammatical terminology, distinct from other word classes. It is used when describing the grammar of a sentence rather than the meaning of a word.

A verb in grammatical terminology. Naming it helps when explaining how an action or state is expressed and how particles mark its subject and object.

An adjective or descriptive word class in grammatical analysis. It modifies nouns and is often used to build imagery in descriptive writing.

Appearance, form or condition, and also used to mean 'somewhat' or 'rather'. It appears in descriptive writing to qualify how something looks or seems.

A topic, subject, policy or underlying purpose. In a text it is the main theme or issue, and in formal contexts it can refer to an agreed agenda or cause.

A reason, cause, issue or matter under discussion. It often appears in formal speech to introduce the point being argued or the issue at stake.

Custom, protocol and correct procedure. Understanding tikanga is needed to interpret formal occasions and to know when particular registers and vocabulary are appropriate.

Prestige, authority, influence or spiritual power, held by people, groups and places. It is a key concept in speeches, proverbs and discussions of leadership and respect.

Love, compassion, sympathy or affection. It appears frequently in laments, greetings and formal speeches expressing care for people and the deceased.

Kinship and the relationships and obligations that come with it. It is a central value in formal speech and in how people address and acknowledge one another.