Maori language week: Word for the day

by Christie on September 12, 2018 at 6:15pm

Andrew Little with a fist full of dollars.
Photoshopped image credit: Boondecker

In honour of Maori Language Week, we at Whaleoil have decided to dedicate one post each day to highlight a Maori word that has particular significance to Maoridom.

Today’s Maori Word of the Week is: Apo

Definition :  Apo, verb, to grasp greedily, grab, appropriate, acquire greedily.

Usage: very common, particularly in Treaty negotiations or renegotiations.

The above photo was taken during negotiations with Ngapuhi in August (with some assistance from Boondecker). Clearly, the talks were going well.

Once a Treaty settlement has been agreed and signed, however, this does not necessarily mean that the agreement is final and no more money will be paid by the Crown. quote:

Ngai Tahu and Tainui received huge top-ups, totalling $370 million, to their supposed “full and final” Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

Waikato-Tainui received $190m and the South Island’s Ngāi Tahu $180m – more than they originally settled for in 1995 and 1998, respectively.

The Government made the payments on December 15 [2017] without any public announcement, but they were discovered by Stuff and confirmed by the Office of Treaty Settlements this week. e