PROVERBIAL AND POPULAR SAYINGS OF THE MAORI NGA WHAKATAUKI ME NGA PEPEHA MAORI Na KINGI IHAKA E kore e ngaro; he takere waka nui. He whakatauaki tenei mo te rangatira. Ko te takere o te waka e mama noa iho te kitea, waiho hoki, pera ano te rangatira, ahakoa pehea te toko-maha o te tangata, kei te mau tonu mai nga tohu he rangatira, ka whakaritea a ia ki te takere o te waka, koia te whakatauaki nei. Ko tetahi ano rerenga o te korero nei mo tetahi take, mo tetahi kaupapa nui rawa ranei. E kore tetahi kaupapa e ngaro, mehemea he kaupapa hei oranga mo te katoa. Kei muri i te awe kapara, he tangata ke; mana i te ao, he ma. E ai ki nga korero, ko te “awe kapara” ko te mea mangu hei whakamau ki te moko o te tangata. Ki te taia ana te tangata ki te moko, ka whakamaungia atu te awe kapara. Kaua e titiro atu ki waho o te tangata, ki tana ahua, kia ana kakahu hoki, engari tirohia a roto. Kauaka e titiro atu ki te mangu o te tangata, engari titiro ki ona whakaaro, ki tana ngakau, Kaua e titiro ki te whero o te aporo, engari tapahia, mehemea kei te pai tonu a roto, kei te pai. Kaua e titiro ki te kakahu o te pukapuka; korerotia i te tuatahi i mua atu i to makatanga i a ia. He moana pukepuke, e ekengia e te waka. Ahakoa pehea te ngarungaru o te moana, ki te tika ana te hoe i te waka, ngawari noa iho te haere a te waka i runga. Waihoki, ahakoa pehea te uaua o tetahi take, o tetahi mahi ranei, ki te whakapau te tangata i tona kaha kia tutuki taua mahi, taua take ranei, me tutuki i runga I te rangimarie ka tika. “Kia i-itiiti te korero, kia nui nga mahi” te whakatauaki a te Pakeha e ahua rite mai ana ki tenei. Ahakoa kai tahi, tera roto te haehae ke ra. E ai ki nga korero, ki te kaitahi ana te tangata, he tohu kei te tau te rangimarie, kei te noho pai hoki. Na tenei whakatauaki, ka kitea te he o tenei korero. Kei te kai tonu nga tangata, kei roto i te whatumanawa o tetahi e noho ana te puhachae me te kino, na reira tenei korero i puta ai. He ika haehae kupenga. Mo te tangata whakakinokino, whakararuraru ranei tenei korero. Ahakoa pehea te pai o tetahi whakahaere, tikanga ranei, tera ano tetahi tangata whakahawea, amuamu., ngautuara, kei te rapu i etahi tikanga e he ai nga whakahaere. Mo te tamaiti tutu ano hoki tenei korero. I whakaritena a ia ki te ika (ngohi) he haehae kupenga te mahi; ahakoa he aha tetahi mea, kei reira a ia e hianga ana. “It will not be undetected, because it is the main part of the hull of a canoe.” This is applied to chiefs. The “takere” is the main part of the hull of a canoe and easily noticeable. A chief is easily recognizable in spite of the many who may assemble, for he wears the sign of chieftainship. This also could be applied to some very worthwhile project. Such a project will not be passed unnoticed, provided of course that it is for the benefit of all. (The former interpretation is the normal one.) “Beneath a man who is tattooed with soot, is a different man: in this world he is clean.” Do not judge a person from his outside appearance; never judge a book from its cover; all is not gold that glitters. The “awe kapara” was the special soot or resin used in the old days to give colour to the tattoo marks. A man fully tattooed may appear hideous, but judge not from his outward appearance, for he may prove to oe a harmless and righteous gentleman. “Mountainous seas can be negotiated by a canoe.” No matter how rough the seas are, provided a canoe is properly rowed, it will glide along without difficulty. Similarly, no matter how difficult a problem or work is, if a person is fully determined to solve that problem or to accomplish what he sets out to do, he will succeed. “Although they share meals, within them is jealousy.” When people share a meal, it is normally a sign of friendship, but occasionally there is petty jealousy or even hatred on the part of one or more. On such occasions this saying is applicable. “A fish which ruins the net” This is applied to a troublesome person. No matter how worthwhile a project is, there is always someone who is dissatisfied, always complaining, back-biting, and looking for means to discredit such a scheme. This also applied to a violent youth, always looking for trouble. “Your lying mouth.” The meaning is obvious. Whenever a person is known to be false, the expression is used. “A one day mushroom.” This is applied to anything short-lived or not long established.