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

Table of Contents

Prologue

Epilogue

PROLOGUE

part spiritual

EPILOGUE