Whakatauki / Whakatauaki

Ability
He ringa miti tai heke
A hand which licks up the ebb tide
The people of Wanganui were experienced in handling their canoes in the strong tidal waters of the river, in contrast to those who were familiar only with more placid streams.  The paddles wielded by the crews 'licked up' the outflowing tide.
Abundance
Hinana ki uta, Hinana ki tai
Hinana to the interior, Hinana to the sea
Hinana was the name of the pātaka of the Taupō chief Te Heuheu, and was almost a synonym for plenty.
Te Wai-iti umu tahu roa
The ovens at Te Wai-iti keep on burning
The district was famous for its supply of birds, and the ovens were always well supplied.
Accuracy
Ko te kai a Māui, he ringaringa kau tāhanga
The food of Māui, an empty hand
Māui was an adept at playing games, including ringaringa, a game in which food is held in the hand and others guess which hand is full.  As Māui was always right, the proverb is applied to those whose guesses are correct.
Admiration
He whatitiri ki te rangi, ko Te Arawa ki te whenua
As thunder in the sky, so is the Arawa tribe on earth
There was an occasion when an Arawa war party sang a song of defiance, and the Tūhoe people expressed their admiration in these words.
Advantage	Advice (Parental)
Hinga iho, tomo atu i te pā
With the strength of the enemy overcome, be quick to attack the pā
Age
Ka eke anō i te puke ki Ruahine
He is climbing the mountain of Ruahine
He is growing older.
Agility
Kia tōtōia ngā waewae o taku mokopuna hai whai taki
Let the legs of my grandchild be massaged so that he may pursue the challenger
Māori mothers massaged the limbs of their babies from birth to make them supple.  Agility was necessary when visitors came and teh challenger had to be pursued and caught before he could rejoin the ranks.
Alertness
E moe ana te mata hī tuna, e ara te mata hī aua
When the eyes of those who fish for eels are sleeping, the eyes of those who catch mullet are open
The alertness of the mullet catcher is compared to those who stand on guard and are wakeful during a seige.
Ambition	Anxiety
	Te paki o Hewa
	The fine weather of Hewa
	A proverbial saying relating to good weather when all seems well, but the heart is troubled with anxiety.
	Appearances
	He kākā tino tangata
	The ugly offspring
	Appearances may be deceptive.  Though they may be ugly and unattractive, they come from a line of great chiefs.  The expression has the brevity and meaning of 'ugly duckling'.
Beauty
Ko Hine-ruhi koe, te wahine nāna i tū te ata hāpara
You are like Hine-ruhi, the woman who caused the wonder of the dawn to appear
Hine-ruhi was a woman so noted for her beauty that her fame passed on from one generation to another.
Me te mea ko Kōpū ka rere i te pae
Like the star Venus as it rises above the horizon
The beauty of a woman is compared to Kōpū, the star that heralds the coming of the morning.
Ko Hine-tītama koe, matawai ana te whatu i te tirohanga
You are like Hine-tītama; the eye glistens at the sight of you
Hine-tītama was the dawn maid, the daughter of Tāne and the earth formed woman at the dawn of time.  A beautiful woman is compared to the first girl of the dawn.
Beginnings (small)
He ika kai ake i raro, he rāpaki ake i raro
As a fish begins to nibble from below, so the ascent of a hill begins from the bottom
Wars often rise from the most trifling causes.
Bravery
	He kotahi nā Tūhoe e kata te pō
	A single man of Tūhoe causes laughter in the underworld
	A few brave men of the Tūhoe tribe swell the ranks of the spirits who are sent to the underworld.  The Tūhoe warriors are noted for their fierceness.  The remark was first made by Rangiteaorere.
	Ngā uri o Whakatau-pōtiki
	The descendants of Whakatau-pōtiki
	Whakatau-pōtiki was a brave leader who attacked the Āti Hāpai single-handed and burnt their famous house Te Uru-o-Manono.  Another chief of this name attempted to reach Te Arawī pa at Kāwhia, which was occupied by Te Rauparaha and his Ngāti Toa.  He was killed by Takiwaru, the nephew of Te Wherowhero.  It is the earlier hero of this name, however, who was no doubt referred to in the proverb.
Caution
He mate i te marama
The moon dies.  A moon-like death.
Though the moon dies, it comes to life again, but you cannot return, so do not expose yourself to danger.
Challenge
Ko taku iwi tuaroa tēnā
That is my backbone
My backbone is sacred; do not dare touch it.
Charity
Kia kī rourou iti a haere
Please fill up the traveller's tiny food basket

These whakatauki were sourced from the following sources:

• The Read Book of Maori Proverbs, Brougham A.E & Reed A.W
• Maori.org.nz