Nga Whakatauki Maori Proverbs and Sayings by Bill Parker To quote Dr Raymond Firth, a world-famous New Zealand anthropologist, ‘the proverb is the rough diamond of folklore … it is a homely, rugged and outspoken piece of wisdom. Brief almost to curtness, cryptic at times in its allusion to forgotten things, it is still a jewel of truth.’ There are many hundreds of proverbs in Maori; most are concise in form but pregnant in meaning. Some contain wit and humour, others embody some piece of wisdom and express universal truths and eternal values. They served as pointers to the accepted standards of a highly regulated society. There are many proverbs that praise foresight, thrift, alertness, bravery, leadership, industry, neatness, beauty, generosity—proverbs that scorn idleness, clumsiness, wastefulness—that frown upon lack of planning, in-hospitality, gluttony—that rebuke grumbling, greed, boasting, cowardice — that caution against hidden thoughts and false exteriors. Some of the age-old Maori proverbs have fallen out of current use, for some of their allusions are now obscure and the underlying meaning is lost. But a very great number have survived and are still employed by accomplished public speakers to add humour, colour and drama to the thrust and parry of verbal encounters on the marae. Here are a few proverbs relating to the economic aspect of life. They emphasise the advantages of work and of communal effort. In mirroring the attitudes and values of the people, they should also give us some insight into the life of the Maori of former times. Ma mahi, ka ora. Alteratively, Ko mahi, ko ora. By work we prosper, that is, it is by working that we sustain ourselves. The classical rendering of the above is: Mauri mahi, mauri ora; mauri noho, mauri mate. Industry begets prosperity (security); idleness begets poverty (insecurity). Ma te werawera o tou mata e kai ai koe i te haunga ahi o te kai. By the perspiration on your face you will taste the piquant flavour of cooked food. Honest work brings its own reward. Ehara i te Aitanga-a-Tiki! Indeed, a descendant of Tiki (who personified physical effort). Ehara koe i te ringa huti punga! It is indeed that (powerful) arm that hauls up the anchor of the canoe. Maramara nui a Mahi ka riro i a Noho. The large chips made by Mr Hardwork fall to the share of Mr Sit-still. That is, the food and the fruit of those who labour often fall to those who are lazy—a caution against the idle hanger-on. Waiapu ngau ringa. Waiapu that blisters the hands. One has to work hard in Waiapu in order to subsist. Blistered hands were the trade-mark of an industrious person. (Girls were advised to marry men with blistered hands!) Ko te tokomaha a Rangi-whaka-angi. It is the multitude of Rangi-whaka-angi (who personified lightness and ease). A reminder to group workers that to attain smoothness and ease at some gruelling task they should take the strain at precisely the same instant. To people working in concert, it was essential for each to pull his weight. Ma tini ma mano ka rapa te whai. By many, by thousands, the work (project) will be accomplished. Many hands make light work. Unity is strength. Ma pango ma whero ka oti. By black and red together it is done. Red (whero) refers to the kokowai—a mixture of shark oil and red ochre — which was smeared on the body of the chief. The rank and file workers (plebians) looked black by comparison. This saying means that only by