NCEA Level 3 Cook Islands Māori key terms

The Cook Islands Māori language itself, the Polynesian language of the Cook Islands spoken across the northern and southern island groups. The exam assesses understanding, use, and analysis of this language in spoken and written forms.

Language, voice, or speech. Used to talk about a person's language, the sound of a voice, or the way something is said, including tone and manner of speaking.

A word or term. In language study it refers to individual vocabulary items and how their meaning changes depending on context, including kupu tūturu (loanwords) borrowed from other languages.

A borrowed or loan word adopted into Cook Islands Māori from another language, often English or Tahitian. Recognising these helps candidates discuss language change and modern vocabulary development.

A sign, symbol, or marker that carries meaning. In listening and viewing tasks it refers to visual or verbal cues that signal meaning, such as gestures, images, or repeated phrases in a text.

To look, watch, or view. Central to the viewing strand, it describes actively observing visual texts such as performances, posters, or video to interpret meaning and purpose.

A traditional drum or drumming, often the slit drum used to accompany song and dance. Recognising its role in performance helps candidates interpret audio and cultural contexts in listening tasks.

Custom, tradition, or customary practice. Refers to the accepted ways of behaving and doing things within Cook Islands Māori society, passed down through generations and central to cultural understanding.

Origin, root, base, or foundation. Used to discuss the source of a practice, a family's ancestral roots, or the underlying reason for a custom or belief.

Source, origin, or spring. Often used figuratively for the source of knowledge, language, or lineage, such as the elders or ancestors from whom traditions and stories come.

Traditional stories, histories, or accounts handed down orally. These include legends, genealogies, and historical narratives that carry cultural knowledge and values across generations.

To speak, talk, or tell; also a speech or discussion. In speaking tasks it refers to delivering spoken text clearly and appropriately for an audience and purpose.

To plan, prepare, or organise. In writing and presenting it refers to structuring ideas and rehearsing before delivering a speech, story, or presentation.

To write, or writing. Covers forming written text in Cook Islands Māori, including spelling, punctuation, and organising ideas into sentences and paragraphs for a purpose.

A letter or written message. Writing letters is a common assessment task, requiring correct greeting and closing conventions and an appropriate register for the reader.

A song or hymn, or to sing. Songs carry language, history, and emotion, and analysing lyrics is a useful way to discuss imagery, rhythm, and cultural themes.

A chant or rhythmic recitation, often performed without melody to mark important occasions. Understanding its structure helps candidates discuss oral performance and traditional composition.

To try, attempt, or sample; also used of testing something. In assessment contexts it signals trying a task or tasting food, showing how one word covers several related meanings.

A thing, object, or item. Used in comprehension questions to refer to concrete objects mentioned in a text, and in grammar to discuss nouns and their classifiers.

A person, human being, or people. Frequently appears in texts about community, family, and relationships, and combines with modifiers to form terms such as tangata whenua.

To learn, or learning. Refers to the process of gaining knowledge or skill, including language learning, and is used when discussing education and personal development in texts.

To marry, or a wedding. A common cultural topic in texts about family events, involving specific customs, exchange of gifts, and roles for extended family members.

Home, village, or place where one belongs. Refers to the family home and wider community, and carries strong emotional and cultural meaning about identity and belonging.

Land, island, or country. Used to talk about a person's home island or the wider nation, and often appears in texts about environment, belonging, and migration.

Ocean, sea, or deep water. Central to Cook Islands life and identity, it appears in stories, songs, and texts about fishing, voyaging, and environmental care.

A canoe, boat, or vessel. Traditionally a voyaging canoe, it symbolises exploration, navigation knowledge, and the seafaring heritage celebrated in Cook Islands culture and stories.

To ask, question, or inquire. In listening and reading tasks it describes the act of posing questions, and in speaking tasks it covers forming clear questions for an audience.

To answer, reply, or respond. Used in comprehension tasks where candidates must respond to a question, and in speaking tasks where a clear, relevant reply is required.

To compare or make a comparison. A key skill in analysis tasks, where candidates discuss similarities and differences between texts, characters, or cultural practices.

To look at, examine, or consider. Used in viewing tasks when candidates examine visual texts closely, noting details of setting, expression, and composition to support interpretation.

To be affected, moved, or shaken; also used of strong emotion. Useful when discussing how a text makes an audience feel, such as a story or song that evokes sadness or pride.

To think, believe, or consider; also thought or opinion. In presenting tasks it refers to expressing a personal viewpoint and supporting it with reasons.

A purpose, reason, or benefit. Used when analysing why a text was written, who it is for, and what effect the author or speaker intended to achieve.

Clear, plain, or light in colour. Used figuratively for clear speech or writing, and literally for describing appearance in descriptive texts and viewing tasks.

A negative marker meaning not or no. A high-frequency grammatical word used to form negatives in sentences, essential for accurate comprehension and production in Cook Islands Māori.

A particle meaning and, joining words or phrases in a list or sentence. Recognising conjunctions helps candidates follow longer spoken and written texts.

Before, in front of, or first. Used to sequence events in narrative and to describe position, and appears in time phrases that organise recounting of stories.

After, behind, or the rear. Used for sequence and position in narratives, and in time expressions that order events in a recount or explanation.