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Word "flag" in Maori

Last modified: 2016-03-24 by antónio martins
Keywords: haki | kara | pīwari | piiwari |
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Overview

New Zealand Maori uses two words, [both stemming from English]:

  • "Kara" (which is a derivative of "colour") and
  • "Haki" (which is a derivative of "jack").
"L" and "J" are not represented in the Maori alphabet, hence the substitution.
Stuart Park, 23 Jan 1996

"Haki" and "pīwari" both mean "flag":

  • "Haki" (a transliteration of "flag"? — or more likely, of "jack"), has been used since the 19th century at least.
  • "Pīwari" (meaning "to wave in the wind") is more recent — it’s the term that The Māori Language Commission gives in its dictionary Te Matatiki.
I’m guessing the MLC was trying to provide an alternative that isn’t a transliteration. So "pīwari" is a bit more official if you like. "Haki" is the one everyone knows tho, and "pou pīwari" sounds odd to me. Te Matatiki also gives "haki kairota" for "linesman’s flag", and says that "haki" is «common usage» for flag. Another word is "kara", from colour as in "the trooping of the colour".
Kahuroa, quoted by James Dignan, 17 Aug 2007

The pre-European Maori word for flag (if there was one) does not seem to have survived.
Stuart Park, 23 Jan 1996

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Word " haki "

Word:
haki
Script:
Latin
Etym. family:
*jak

External links:

Have a look at the Maori Wikipedia article about te Ruki Kawiti and you can see that Heke cut down the pou haki (the flagpole).
Moriori, quoted by James Dignan, 17 Aug 2007

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Word " kara " (="color")

Word:
kara
Script:
Latin
Etym. family:
*kolor
Meaning:
color

"Kara" is a transliteration of "colour". Presumably it is used in a similar way to the term "colour" in English vexillology, though I confess I’m not 100% certain that is the case.
James Dignan, 26 Oct 2007

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Word " pīwari " (="flag")

Word:
pīwari
Script:
Latin
Etym. family:
*pyw
Meaning:
flag

Remarks:
seldom used
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Word " piiwari "

Word:
piiwari
Script:
Latin
Variant:
acceptable spelling variant of "pīwari"

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