Sometimes, the origins behind reo words can get lost in translation, their meanings altered to mean something derogatory or unpleasant. Kaiako (teacher) Joan Costello shares a kōrero (story) behind the word Pākehā, and helps us understand the beauty of the word.
What does Pākehā mean?
Growing up, I just knew that the word Pākehā meant the early ancestors that came from abroad – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, etc.
I first heard its deeper meaning when it was shared by an elder in a documentary. I’m sorry to say I don’t remember which one – but its teachings stayed with me all these years.
Within the word ‘Pākehā’ there’s reference to three words:
Pā – means to come in to contact, to make contact.
Ke – is related to the word ‘rerekē’ which means different, or unique.
Hā – is to share and exchange the breath. I understand that’s the whole reason we do a hongi – to share and acknowledge the breath, the hā, that connects us all.
So putting those three words together we have:
‘To come in to contact with a unique essence of the hā ’
From the heavens
It was thought that the people who came on the ships with their fair skin had come from ngā rangi tūhāhā – from the skies, realms, heavens, dimensions above.
In Sāmoa, the equivalent to ‘Pākehā’ is ‘Palagi’. When talking to a colleague from Sāmoa, she told me that ‘pa’ means the same – to come into contact, and ‘Palagi’ is the skies, or the heavens. So there’s a very close similarity.
It was a wonderful day when I learnt the meaning behind the word Pākehā – it makes you stop and want to take a big breath!
Pronouncing Pākehā
Pā (p+are)
Kē (say the English word ‘Keg’ then drop the ‘g’)
Hā (hā)
Note: the macrons elongate the vowel therefore enjoy and take your time!
This is just one interpretation of the kupu (word) Pākehā and others may have different understandings, we’d love to hear what yours are in the comments.
When we learnt basic maori back in the Waikato in the mid 1960’s, our maori teacher who was an elder and a beautiful man said there were many differences between tribes. In general terms the word Pakeha was used in the early days of European migration to NZ to describe a stranger with fair skin who smelt differently. He joked with us saying if we did not wash we would also be called smelly white fellas. It did not mean we smelt bad but different.
I cannot remember any of us white fellas taking offence to this at the time. Good times.
Hi. Thanks for this explanation of word i grew up despising. As a 7th generation NewZealander of European descent , i grew up believing it to be a hateful derogatory nick name. However i was fortunate to be educated somewhat by an elder of the tribe in south westland who had collected many old documents and books and studied the Maori language extensively, and it was a small translation book in her collection, created by an early European missionary, that has given me the best definition and explanation for that word.
He wrote that the word Pakeha (possibly misspelled in the original recording of the word) was a word in common use by the Maori peoples at the time of European arrival and it translated as one of 3 interchangeable meanings depending on the regional dialect.
* stranger
* one who dose not belong
* outsider
As one of the earliest translations ive so far found written down (early 1800s), i find i quite plausible that his translation was accurate. I wish i could provide details of the book and its Author, but i have long forgotten.
for this korero ..
An interesting concept Joan and I’m happy to confirm its correctness for those who truly care however the same thing occurred in reference to the Te Tiritī or Treaty of Waitangi where many misunderstandings deriving from the original owing to and exposing its checkered past and the fact of the matter is that it continues to this present day and people will see it the way they wish or, excuse my French, don’t give a shit at all!
“To come in to contact with a unique essence of the hā”
Bad breaf?
I read a piece of information where the word Pakeha refered to people who do not lool Maori, do not speak the Maori language, do not dress like Maori & do not share the Maori culture.
Is that suggesting Chinese, Japanese & Indian people etc are Pakeha?
Sorry to ruin it for you Pakeha but someone wise told me it means flea but later changed to suit Pakeha, to save them from shame for calling them selves Pakeha. So now everyone these days define Pakeha as White People. But I dont fucking know Āe I’m A Child in the Te Reo Māori and far from fluency.
Blow me down …I always thought it meant white pig
Your onn..
Keha is flea and pa is from when they came here they hopped from pa to pa infecting us with blankets riddled with what we know of as keha..
The part that cracks me off is they had made up this pakehaka telling us they were great spiritual beings that come from sea.. but hey they got away with rewriting our past to suit there colonizing and we all need to start hunting for the truths.. to become what we should really be…
Be better tangata whenua..
A few years back when I was studying I came across a journal article on the origins of the words “Maori” and “Pakeha” that said Pakeha is the short form of ‘Pakehakeha’ meaning “imaginary beings with fair skin” (or something to that effect), and Maori meaning ‘ordinary’. If you think about it, it would have been completely new and fascinating for tangata whenua to see Pakeha for the first time, hence the word “imaginary”.
Okay it seems that you have already got that understanding , I didn’t actually read the whole article because Te Papa is known for translating our reo wrong and stiring up the pot more.
Tēnā koe Amanda, that’s fascinating research. I’d love to hear the stories that talk about Pākehakeha, and Pakepakehā, which definitely seem to provide some origins for the word Pākehā.
Tēnā hoki koe Tamatoa. I’m the current team leader for our reo Māori writing team at Te Papa. I appreciate your comment regarding translation. It’s true that we don’t always get it right, but we are always trying to improve. I’d love to hear more specific feedback about where Te Papa misses the mark so we can address those issues. Feel free to contact me via the details on my profile here so I can ensure our team is aware of where we can better serve te reo rangatira.
I remember someone describing as
Pā-kehā
Pā- referring to any Māori village or defensive settlemen
Kehā-ulcer/sore or flea/bloodsucking insect
Village pests or somthing like..
They way you’ve put it sounds more like it
That etymology sounds suspiciously convenient.
Further, I don’t believe anyone thinks about the word in that way.
Therefore the etymology may as well be made up.
Well I’m guessing you do not actually speak maori. This is an ancient meaning of the word before it was somehow twisted to be derogatory. Some think pakeha means white pig, I don’t know where this came from but there is no “white” or “pig” in the name. Poaka ma is a white pig. Also it was used long before Europeans arrived and even longer before they had introduced pigs to our people. Pakeha was used as another term for Patupaiarehe, representing the contact with their unique being. Pa=to interact with, come into contact with. Ke=Different, unique, another. Ha=breath of life. Their are more ancient meanings than just this one but none of them are negative. Kehua is also a different word in itself, pakeha represents light, while kehua represents darkness. And I’ve noticed many connect the two which are in no way connected to eachother, kehua are demonic spirits.
Thank you this was what I understood Pākehā to mean and I do remember going through all the stages of astonishment, resentment, understanding and not only acceptance but also desire, when it came to using Pākehā to describe myself. Understanding the definition above: “It was thought that the people who came on the ships with their fair skin had come from ngā rangi tūhāhā – from the skies, realms, heavens, dimensions above.” It was in fact a pretty accurate perception and recognition at the time. I am happy to be described as a Pākehā and have happily done so for a long time. Have a great day.
Thank you for this explanation. I think there are a range of words in te reo Māori that give us tauiwi, or non-Māori, space to be who we are and yet have a connection to this place.
This word does not apply to recent people that have arrived to New Zealand.
It is specific to the people that fought side by side with the New Zealanders between 1800 to 1865 to build a lawful country that is safe and properous to all that would later come.
We are not non anything .We exist in New Zealand , as our ancestors did.
Our Anglo German Maori history is deeply intertwined with Hobson, Nene, Patuone, German settlers of the Saint Paulie and Queen Victoria holding us altogether as she does to this day.
If you are new to new Zealand then please study our correct history before making false statements that may damage our NZ MaoriPakeha eco system.
Tēnā koe Vish. I completely agree – te reo Māori developed from a culture of inclusivity, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and mana motuhake. I’m proud that our reo can provide a sense of connection to Aotearoa for people from all over the world.
Pākehā is also a word used in he whakaputanga and te Tiriti for those that arrived.
“4. Ka mea matou kia tuhituhia he pukapuka ki te ritenga o tenei o to matou wakaputanga nei ki te Kingi o Ingarani hei kawe atu i to matou aroha. nana hoki i wakaae ki te Kara mo matou. a no te mea ka atawai matou, ka tiaki i nga pakeha e noho nei i uta e rere mai ana ki te hokohoko, koia ka mea ai matou ki te Kingi kia waiho hei matua ki a matou i to matou Tamarikitanga kei wakakahoretia to matou Rangatiratanga.”
– He Wakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni
“Na ko te Kuini e hiahia ana kia wakaritea te Kawanatanga kia kaua ai nga kino e puta mai ki te tangata maori ki te Pakeha e noho ture kore ana.”
– Te Tiriti o Waitangi preamble
So does that mean Pakeha is also Samoan people, Asian people and India people? And dosen’t strictly mean white European people?
This is just one interpretation of the word. If you primarily focus on the semantics, then you could supposedly refer it to anyone migrated to Aotearoa. Since it’s social usage often means “white person,” you might have to clarify how you decide to use it.
Probably not. Is quite specific at the beginning of the article that pakeha refers to fair-skinned people, primarily those who came on the ships with their fair skin.
Kia ora Whaea Joan. I love this definition. Thanks for sharing your story. Nancy Thompson