SENS101 - Māori Concepts

Mana

Power and authority. Lawful permission delegated by the gods to their human agents

Mana whenua

Power and authority held by the tangata whenua of an area. Gift from papatuanuku to produce the bounties of nature

Rangatiratanga

Leadership ensuring whanau, hapu, iwi, etc uphold mana, enjoying social, economic, and spiritual wellbeing. Also can be defined as sovereignty

Tapu

A person, place, or object which is sacred and and profane use is a violation. Relation to the Māori forms of reality: physical, psychic, and spiritual

Wahi Tapu

Places which are sacred and are left alone/no longer used. These places include burial sites, sites where violent deaths occurred, or human remains. Violation invites misfortune

Whenua

Meaning land and is papatuanuku the earth mother. Māori have a physical relationship as well as an ancestral and spiritual relationship with the whenua

Taonga Tuku Iho

Anything inherited and highly valued which can include land. Signifies connection to whakapapa to protect and pass down for future generations

Tikanga

The first law of the country and the correct way to carry something out in Māori cultural terms. Encompasses a vast body of knowledge, wisdom, and custom, often not codified like English law.

Kaitiakitanga

Responsibility passed through generations to mana whenua to live respectfully with the environment and ensure it maintains the ability to sustain life for this and following generations. Spiritual assistance of the gods.