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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 5 (September 1, 1933)

[section]

The Maori is a philosopher and a poet, and many of his proverbial sayings express sound and salutary counsel and are couched in language euphonious and epigrammatic. Here I give some further selections from the great store of whakatauki or proverbs in the literature of the race.

On the East Coast this is sometimes said of an aged person:

“Ka eke ano i te puke ki Ruahine.” (“He is ascending the snowy mountains of the Ruahine.“)

This is one of the proverbs directed against those who claim a share in the harvest or the labours of others to which they have not contributed themselves:

“I whea koe i te tangihanga o te pipiwharauroa?” (“Where were you when the cry of the shining cuckoo was heard? —i.e., at planting time.)

In praise of prudence and industry:

“Tama tu, tama ora; tama noho, tama mate kai.” (“The young man who is up and doing shall have food to sustain him; the lazy one shall go hungry.“)

Once bitten twice shy; never again:

“He manu ka motu i te mahanga e kore e taea te whai.” (“A bird which has escaped from the snare will not be enticed into it again.“)

Take thought for the morrow, be forehanded:

“Hapainga mai he o mo tatou; kahore he tarainga here i te ara.” (“Bring food for our journey; there will be no making of bird-spears on the way.“)

The wise old people counselled selfreliance:

“He kai tangata, he kai titongitongi kaki; he kai na tona ringa, tino kai tino makona noa.” (“Food which is the fruit of another person's labour is apt to stick in the throat; food that is produced by one's own exertions is eaten with relish and is truly satisfying.“)

It is wise to get rid of the weak and doubtful, and place reliance alone on the stout-hearted:

“Ruita taitea, kia tu ko taikaka anake.” (“Discard the sapwood portions of the timber, use only the sound heart.“)