Bride and groom standing on a rocky mountain, with the bride reading a letter and both smiling. The background is foggy with rocky terrain.

GLOSSARY ABOUT MAORI WEDDING

Photographers for your intimate destination wedding or elopement

For the Nostalgic, Storyteller, CULTURE and Cinema Lovers

LEXICAL OF TERMINOLOGY ABOUT WEDDING

MAORI Wedding
PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER

General Wedding Terms

  1. Māori wedding

  2. Traditional union

  3. Whānau gathering

  4. Māori culture

  5. Sacred marriage

  6. Aroha (love)

  7. Ancestral traditions

  8. Te ao Māori

  9. Marriage customs

  10. Spiritual connection

  11. Cultural celebration

  12. Tribal wedding

  13. Whakapapa (genealogy)

  14. Māori heritage

  15. Unity ceremony

  16. Māoritanga

  17. Kawa (protocols)

  18. Ancestral blessings

  19. Hākarameta (sacrament)

  20. Marital union

Pre-Wedding Traditions

  1. Whānau approval

  2. Kaumātua blessing (elder blessing)

  3. Hākari (feast) preparation

  4. Koha (gift exchange)

  5. Ritual cleansing

  6. Whakapapa recitation

  7. Iwi negotiation

  8. Pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony)

  9. Bride’s pōwhiri

  10. Groom’s pōwhiri

  11. Kai whakapai (food blessing)

  12. Ancestral invocation

  13. Tapu lifting (sacred cleansing)

  14. Spiritual journey

  15. Whānau discussions

  16. Ringa tohu (engagement)

  17. Kai whakanoa (ritual meal)

  18. Traditional offerings

  19. Tohunga (spiritual guide)

  20. Ancestral approval

Wedding Ceremony

  1. Karanga (ceremonial call)

  2. Haka pōwhiri (welcoming haka)

  3. Taki (challenge)

  4. Wharenui ceremony

  5. Marae rituals

  6. Kai karakia (food blessing)

  7. Tauparapara (opening chant)

  8. Waiata tautoko (supporting song)

  9. Kōrero (speeches)

  10. Karakia (prayer)

  11. Tā moko exchange

  12. Unity weaving

  13. Waka taua (ceremonial canoe)

  14. Hākari feast

  15. Tribal blessings

  16. Pounamu gift

  17. Tīpuna (ancestor) invocation

  18. Whānau involvement

  19. Harakeke weaving

  20. Kawa observance

Post-Wedding Traditions

  1. Hākari celebration

  2. Family gathering

  3. Tuku iho (legacy) sharing

  4. Whānau gifting

  5. Elders’ acknowledgment

  6. Tribal storytelling

  7. Kai whakapai

  8. Whānau speeches

  9. Celebration haka

  10. Taonga (treasures) presentation

  11. Kai whakawhanaungatanga (food bonding)

  12. New home blessing

  13. Community feast

  14. Village gathering

  15. Tribal songs

  16. Ancestral honoring

  17. Shared meal

  18. Legacy handover

  19. Whānau integration

  20. Kinship unity

Symbols and
Beliefs

  1. Pounamu (greenstone)

  2. Tā moko (tattoo)

  3. Harakeke (flax)

  4. Koru (spiral)

  5. Manaakitanga (hospitality)

  6. Mana (prestige)

  7. Tapu (sacred)

  8. Mauri (life force)

  9. Wairua (spirit)

  10. Aroha (love)

  11. Rangimarie (peace)

  12. Whenua (land)

  13. Whānau (family)

  14. Tūrangawaewae (place of belonging)

  15. Tohunga (spiritual guide)

  16. Taonga tuku iho (heritage)

  17. Whakapono (faith)

  18. Kaitiakitanga (guardianship)

  19. Atua (deity)

  20. Rongo (peace god)

Attire and
Style

  1. Korowai (cloak)

  2. Kakahu (garment)

  3. Woven flax

  4. Feathered adornments

  5. Tā moko face markings

  6. Greenstone jewelry

  7. Hei tiki pendants

  8. Bone carvings

  9. Woven belts

  10. Feathered headpieces

  11. Traditional cloaks

  12. Poi adornments

  13. Pounamu necklace

  14. Embroidered patterns

  15. Natural dyes

  16. Tribal tattoos

  17. Woven skirts

  18. Ancestral motifs

  19. Paua shell jewelry

  20. Tribal insignias

Decorations and Props

  1. Marae decorations

  2. Carved pou (posts)

  3. Wharenui designs

  4. Harakeke mats

  5. Floral garlands

  6. Woven baskets

  7. Paua shell inlays

  8. Ancestral carvings

  9. Feathered decor

  10. Natural fibers

  11. Koru patterns

  12. Woven flax props

  13. Traditional weaving

  14. Tribal motifs

  15. Ancestral icons

  16. Wood carvings

  17. Wharenui tapestries

  18. Greenstone figures

  19. Sacred symbols

  20. Floral arrangements

Songs and
Dances

  1. Waiata (songs)

  2. Haka (dance)

  3. Poi dance

  4. Karakia chants

  5. Celebration songs

  6. Pōwhiri haka

  7. Tribal waiata

  8. Ancestral rhythms

  9. Waka songs

  10. Flute melodies

  11. Drum beats

  12. Call-and-response chants

  13. Love waiata

  14. Tohunga blessings

  15. Marae songs

  16. Ceremonial dances

  17. Group performances

  18. Bride’s waiata

  19. Groom’s haka

  20. Unity dances

Sacred Items and Ritual Objects

  1. Pounamu pendants

  2. Taiaha (staff)

  3. Harakeke fibers

  4. Kōhatu (stones)

  5. Carved waka

  6. Sacred cloak

  7. Ancestral carvings

  8. Tribal emblems

  9. Ritual bowls

  10. Woven baskets

  11. Tāonga (treasures)

  12. Toki (adze)

  13. Waka paddles

  14. Sacred stones

  15. Bone amulets

  16. Ritual mats

  17. Ceremonial flute

  18. Feathered fans

  19. Carved totems

  20. Unity chalice

Values and
Teachings

  1. Manaakitanga (hospitality)

  2. Whakapapa (ancestry)

  3. Aroha (love)

  4. Tūrangawaewae (belonging)

  5. Kaitiakitanga (guardianship)

  6. Tapu (sacredness)

  7. Mauri (life force)

  8. Wairua (spirit)

  9. Tikanga (customs)

  10. Rangimarie (peace)

  11. Whanaungatanga (relationships)

  12. Mana (respect)

  13. Atua (deities)

  14. Ancestral wisdom

  15. Tribal unity

  16. Earth connection

  17. Respect for nature

  18. Shared legacy

  19. Spiritual guidance

  20. Generational teachings

Māori
Wedding Foods

  1. Hāngī feast

  2. Kumara (sweet potato)

  3. Rewena bread

  4. Boiled greens

  5. Paua fritters

  6. Shellfish platters

  7. Pāua soup

  8. Fresh seafood

  9. Tītī (muttonbird)

  10. Eel dishes

  11. Wild game

  12. Pipi (shellfish)

  13. Mussels

  14. Kaimoana platters

  15. Roast lamb

  16. Watercress salad

  17. Kina (sea urchin)

  18. Kūmara mash

  19. Traditional desserts

  20. Herbal tea