Glossary of Māori Terms

The more commonly known Māori terms used in the whānau-family and patient voices are described below. For more translations, please refer to the app Te Aka.

Kaimahi

Kaimahi is a worker (used in an English context it can be singular or plural). In the context of palliative care, kaimahi refers to all health professionals (and support roles) who work and care for patients and their whānau.

Mana

Mana is a supernatural force in a person, place or object, and is interconnected with tapu and wairua. Its wider meaning includes status and prestige. “Mana comes from knowing who you are, where you come from and your connection to the land” Tame Iti

Mirimiri

Mirimiri is traditional Māori healing practice that uses touch, sound, words and song, karakia and incantations, as well as massage, stroking and pressure to calm, soothe, ease and lessen physical, spiritual, emotional and mental disease. A Mirimiri session will be unique to the receiver, the practitioner and the occasion.

Rongoā Māori

Rongoā is traditional Māori medicine and healing that was passed on experientially, and was comprised of diverse practices that placed emphasis not only physical health, but also on spiritual dimension of wellbeing. Rongoā includes natural remedies such as bush/herbal medicine; locations, such as mountains, rivers and land; physical therapies such as touch, massage and manipulation; and spiritual healing, such as karakia, waiata, incantations, whakapapa and whakatauki.

Taonga

Taonga can be anything that is considered socially or culturally valuable, including objects, resources, phenomenon, ideas, abilities and techniques.

Tapu

Tapu is a state of restriction or prohibition. – a supernatural condition. It is untouchable, no longer to be put to common use.

Tinana

Tinana is the actual and real part of anything, such as a body or tree, as opposed to an apparition. Tinana is commonly used to refer to the human body