Te reo Māori terms and translations

The University of Auckland aims to be a place where te reo Māori can flourish, where the language is used by everybody, everywhere, every day.  The commitments of the University towards achieving this aim are outlined in the University Language Plan for the Revitalisation of te Reo Māori:  Te taonga nō tua whakarere, he taonga mo āpōpō:  A treasure from ancient times, and for tomorrow. The provision of a kuputaka glossary of Māori terms for use at the University is one of our commitments.   

The University of Auckland Kuputaka glossary of Māori terms is the authorised collection of written and spoken te reo Māori text, for a selection of academic and common usage terms, for use at the University. The Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori is responsible for the kuputaka. Te Mātanga Reo, the University Māori Language Advisory Committee is accountable for the quality of the text, taking into account the dialectical nuances of relevance to the University of Auckland located in Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tai Tokerau and Waikato.

The Kuputaka currently includes text relating to:

• Campus, service and faculty names
• University roles and job titles
• University website terms
• Signage
• University marketing and events
• Student-related terms
• Document headings and sub-headings
• Greetings and signoffs
• Days, months and University calendar

The Kuputaka is not a complete document, intentions are that it will develop over time as new text is added and necessary revisions are made. Other written and spoken te reo Māori text used at the University can be found in Te Kūaha.

Te Kūaha is the University of Auckland app created to support staff, students and alumni to learn, practice and use basic te reo and tikanga Māori. 

Te Mātanga Reo, the University Māori Language Advisory Committee is authorised with advising the University on the appropriate use of te reo Māori within the University to ensure a consistent standard is adopted. Te Mātanga Reo will approve any new translations and provide advice for naming buildings and departments. The committee is administered by the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori.

For questions or comments on current content, requests for
new translations, and naming:

Email: PVC.Maori@auckland.ac.nz

Please allow a minimum of three weeks and provide information about the purpose or intention of the translation, as the te reo Māori translation will often depend on the context.

To ensure we have sufficient time for the translation process, we kindly request that you engage with us earlier for your translation needs and provide us with any specific deadlines you may have.

This way, we can better plan and allocate resources to meet your requirements effectively.

Note: Interior and exterior building signage translations must first be requested through
Property Services who will liaise with the Office of the PVC Māori.