He Iti te Kupu: Māori Metaphors and Similes

He Iti te Kupu contains nearly 500 sayings that draw a comparison between something (often the natural world) and people, events or contexts. Written in Maori and English, this accessible guide explains the use, meaning and context of a host of the principal figures of speech in te reo.

Divided into themes, including birds of the land and sea, parts of the body, acknowledgements, animals and insects.

The title derives from the proverb, ‘The words are small, yet their meanings are substantial,’ highlighting the importance of these sayings in the landscape of Maori language learning and speaking.

This volume will be an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to use Maori figures of speech — whether in te reo or English — as well as students and speakers of the language.

• Hona Black, Author

  Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) lectures on teaching for Māori medium schools at Te Pūtahi a Toi: School of Māori Knowledge at Massey University, Palmerston North. He has worked as the Senior Māori Adviser on Massey’s Wellington campus, and been Head of Te Reo Māori at Hato Pāora College in Feilding. Hona lives in Porirua, New Zealand, with his partner and their baby son.