In this Brief, we dig into the meaning of ‘taonga’ from our perspective — what the term holds, how it’s been used, what it means to us, and why it matters for the mahi we do. We also touch on its appearance in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, where Māori were promised tino rangatiratanga over ‘o ratou taonga katoa’ (check out the NZ History link below for a more in-depth look at this). That commitment sits at the heart of our responsibilities today. This Brief sets the foundation for everything else we’ll explore this season.

Links

Te Aka Māori Dictionary

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Glossary

Kōrero - to tell, say, speak, read, talk.

Kupu - word, vocabulary, saying, talk, message, statement.

Pākehā - English, foreign, European, exotic - introduced from or originating in a foreign country.

Taha Māori - Māori identity, Māori character, Māori side, Māori heritage, Māori ancestry, Māori descent.

Taonga - possession, object, treasured possession, something prized.

Whakapapa - genealogy, lineage, descent.

Te ao Māori - the Māori world.

Te reo Māori - the Māori language.

Wāhi tapu - sacred place, sacred site.

Whakaaro - thought, opinion, plan, understanding, idea, intention.