Tēnā koutou - hello everyone.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini. My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective.

Last week’s kōrero answered a question sent in to me.

A Central App reader had heard the term ‘whānau’ used in the context of a large workplace, and asked if the word for ‘family’ should be used in that context.  We discovered it could.

The literal meaning of whānau is ‘family’. However, whānau can also be described as a group of people who are not related, but who are bound together for a common purpose, or share a common cause or interest. Examples of kaupapa-based whanau are a church, support group, community, team-mates, or work colleagues. A group of close friends may also be referred to as whānau.

No matter whether whānau are based on a common bond of kaupapa or through whākapapa descent from a common ancestor, the key factor remains that everyone included in the whānau is supported by each other. 

For Māori as with many cultures, whānau relationships include those with whāngai (foster children) and also those who have passed on. 

A quick look at how to describe te whānau using te reo uncovered quite a complicated structure to describe relationships. Many of the words are gender-specific, and different Iwi use different words.

I did, however, find that there are some commonly used terms, a few of which I will use to describe my family.

I am a whaea, or mother. I am also a kuia, or grandmother. In Ngai Tahu dialect, I could also be referred to as taua. 

I have two tama, sons, and two tamāhine, daughters. I have five mokopuna, or grandchildren, soon to be seven!

 Ko tēnei taku whānau, this is my family. Who is your whānau?

Kia pai te rā. Have a great day.

Check out te wiki o te reo Māori here and discover how to describe your family.