Learning a language involves more than just picking up common phrases and everyday vocabulary. For professionals and those interested in specific fields like finance and law, understanding the specialized terminology is crucial. The Māori language, or te reo Māori, is rich with words and phrases that are used in financial and legal contexts in New Zealand. This article will guide you through essential Māori vocabulary related to finance and law, enhancing both your language skills and cultural understanding.

Basic Financial Terms in Māori

Money in Māori is called “moni”. This is a fundamental term that you will encounter in various financial discussions or transactions. For example, when discussing salaries, you might hear:

Kia pēhea te nui o te moni e whiwhi ana koe ia tau? – How much money do you earn per year?

Bank is translated to “pēke” in Māori. Knowing this term is useful for everyday banking needs. If you need to find a bank, you could ask:

Kei hea te pēke tata rawa atu ki konei? – Where is the nearest bank to here?

Investment in Māori is called “haumi”. This term is crucial for discussions about investing money or resources. A typical sentence you might come across in a financial advising session could be:

He pai te haumi ki roto i ngā rawa tūturu. – It’s good to invest in real estate.

Financial Operations and Transactions

To save money, which is an essential financial habit, is expressed as “penapena” in Māori. For instance, setting up a savings account might be discussed as follows:

Kei te hiahia au ki te whakatū pūkete penapena. – I want to set up a savings account.

To spend money in Māori is “whakapau”. Budgeting discussions often involve this verb. You might hear:

Kaua e whakapau te moni katoa i tēnei marama. – Don’t spend all the money this month.

To borrow is expressed as “nama” in Māori. This can be a vital term for understanding loans and borrowing conditions:

Kei te nama ia i te moni mō tōna whare hou. – He is borrowing money for his new house.

Legal Vocabulary in Māori

Law itself in Māori is “ture”. This is an overarching term that covers all aspects of law and regulation. A common phrase in legal contexts might be:

Me whai tātou i ngā ture o te whenua. – We must follow the laws of the land.

Contract in Māori is known as “kirimana”. This term is essential in various legal and business dealings:

Kua hainatia e koe te kirimana? – Have you signed the contract?

Rights, as in legal rights, are referred to as “mana” in Māori. Understanding one’s rights is crucial in legal contexts:

Me mōhio koe ki ō mana. – You should know your rights.

Legal Procedures and Documentation

To sue someone in a court of law is expressed as “whakawā” in Māori. It’s a term that might come up in serious legal discussions:

Kei te whakawā ia i te kamupene mō te takahanga i ōna mana. – He is suing the company for violating his rights.

Witness in legal terms is “kaiwhakaatu”. In any legal proceedings, the presence and testimony of a witness can be pivotal:

He kaiwhakaatu ahau i te kirimana. – I am a witness to the contract.

Agreement in Māori is “whakaaetanga”. It’s important in reaching consensual decisions in both legal and informal settings:

Kua tae ki te whakaaetanga mātou katoa. – We have all reached an agreement.

Conclusion

Understanding the financial and legal vocabulary in Māori not only enhances your language skills but also deepens your appreciation and respect for Māori culture and its presence in professional settings. As New Zealand continues to embrace biculturalism, being proficient in these areas of te reo Māori will undoubtedly provide personal, professional, and social advantages.