Kia kaha te Reo Māori – understanding five essential kupu

Language is at the very heart of culture; it helps to explain who we are and how we derive meaning and purpose. This is true of te Reo Māori, the Maori language.

There are five essential or fundamental kupu/words that explain te Ao Māori/the Māori worldview and are intrinsically connected – Kaitiakitanga, Rangatiratanga, Kotahitanga, Whanaungatanga and Manaakitanga.

From a Māori perspective, these concepts are not simply values or behaviours. They are expressions of relationships, responsibilities, the ways of being that arise from whakapapa and are lived collectively.

Over the years, organisations have adopted Te Reo Māori as a way of demonstrating biculturalism and bilingualism. This has increased the visibility and use of Māori language, but in some cases it has led to some terms being used without a full appreciation of their deeper cultural meaning.

The Relationship Between These Māori Concepts

It’s important to recognise that these concepts are interconnected rather than separate:

• Kaitiakitanga is the responsibility through whakapapa to care for the environment.
• Whanaungatanga gives us our relationships and obligations.
• Manaakitanga guides how we care for those relationships.
• Rangatiratanga shapes how responsibility and authority are exercised within those relationships.
• Kotahitanga is the collective strength that emerges when those relationships are nurtured and aligned toward a common purpose.

Together they describe not only what Māori values are, but how people are expected to live, relate, and contribute within a whakapapa-based worldview.

For Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori, Auckland Zoo created five videos that each explores one of these te Ao Māori concepts and their meaning.  

What does Kaitiakitanga mean?

Kaitiakitanga is being deeply connected to te taiao, the whenua and the moana, and to value and care for these taonga.

Kaitiakitanga was recently named the most beautiful word in the entire world by the language-learning platform Babbel. This kupu was chosen due to its relevance to our world today and the environmental challenges we face. It’s a concept that has no direct equivalent in many other languages.

Kaitiakitanga is often translated as a guardianship or environmental stewardship. If we look at this a little deeper, it is a way to express identity, responsibility and intergenerational connection.

For some iwi, atua like Ranginui, Papatūānuku, and Tāne are recognised as kaitiaki. For others, the role of kaitiaki is a birthright inherited through whakapapa.

Kaitiakitanga is inseparable from other Māori concepts such as whakapapa, rangatiratanga, tapu, noa and manaakitanga. Together, these concepts shape a holistic Māori worldview and inform the responsibilities associated with caring for people and places. 

What does Rangatiratanga mean?

Rangatiratanga is the art of weaving people together for the collective good. It is often translated as leadership, self-determination or sovereignty, but there is a wider meaning in Te Ao Māori.

The kupu comes from ranga (to weave) and tira (a group of people). A rangatira is someone who can weave people together, maintain relationships and provide direction for the good of everyone.

Rangatiratanga refers to leadership and decision-making that is grounded in responsibility. It includes authority derived through whakapapa and the obligation to care for people and resources. It describes how to uphold the mana of others, and the right of Māori to determine their own futures.

In the mahi at Auckland Zoo, it’s how we understand the relationship between Mātauranga Māori and western science, build meaningful conservation partnerships with mana whenua, and the role both mana whenua and mātāwaka play in caring for and understanding the living world around us.

Rangatiratanga shows up in our relationships with whenua, wai, biodiversity and our kin species, as well as the responsibility we have to future generations.

What does Kotahitanga mean?

Kotahitanga is about oneness and what we can achieve by working together. It is commonly translated as unity and togetherness. This Māori concept also encompasses collective action, a shared vision, mutual respect and strength through unity.

It’s not saying everyone needs to be the same or agree on everything. It’s about diverse people working collectively toward a shared purpose or goal, while maintaining their own identities and mana.

Historically, kotahitanga has been important in bringing hapū and iwi together to address common challenges and pursue collective aspirations. It recognises that while individuals and groups may have different perspectives, we are stronger when we move forward together.

At the Zoo, we’re all working together under a shared vision and mission to bring people together to build a future for wildlife. 

What does Whanaungatanga mean?

Whanaungatanga looks beyond the individual and towards community wellbeing!

Whanaungatanga is often translated as ‘relationships’ or ‘connectedness,’ but it is much deeper. It’s not just about knowing one another, it’s about caring for one another because we are all connected.

It’s providing a space where people can create shared experiences. This might be taking the time to share stories and enjoy kai with one another. 

This concept also describes the responsibilities and sense of belonging that comes from whakapapa. Whakapapa is the kupu for how Māori connect to each other and to the natural world through ancestry.

It recognises that mana whenua are connected not only to whānau, hapū, and iwi, but also to whenua, waterways, atua, and future generations. 

What does Manaakitanga mean?

Manaakitanga is the foundation of collective wellbeing. It is often translated as "hospitality," but there is a deeper meaning in Te Ao Māori.

The root of this kupu comes from manaaki which means to care for and support, and aki, which means to uplift and protect the mana of others.

It’s how we share our generosity and kindness with others, give our respect and encouragement, and provide care and protection to those who need it.

Manaakitanga can be expressed through welcoming guests, sharing knowledge, caring for whānau, supporting communities, or advocating for those in need. It reaches beyond hospitality, and ensures people leave with their mana strengthened.

At the Zoo, we express manaakitanga through welcoming our visitors as friends, creating an accessible space for our guests, sharing our knowledge about wildlife and wild places, and ensuring we’re a place for all communities in Tāmaki to connect with te taiao.