Tatari vs Whanga - Is there any difference?
05 November 2025

Tatari vs Whanga - Is there any difference?

A Maori Podcast

About

Tena tatou! This week I look at understanding whether there is a difference between the word 'tatari' and 'whanga' because in English the nuance is lost.

I also take a better look at the word 'tare' and what it means.


Tare. [Te Wiremu pg. 390]

1. Be drawn towards, entertain affection. Ka tare te wahine ki a Tawhaki, ka whakarere i tana tane, ka noho i a Tawhaki.

2. Gasp for breath. E tare ana a Potopoto i te mamae. Tare ana taku poho.


[Te Wiremu pg. 391]

tatari.

1. v.i. Wait. Ka tatari te manuhiri nei ki te tangata o te ahi nei kia hoki mai (T. 186).

2. v.t. Expect. Ka tatari i to raua matenga ki reira (T. 176).


tāria.

1. pass. Be waited for. Ko koe e taria nei e Kohere ma.

2. int. Wait a while !

3. ad. By and by, after a time. Taria nei he mate e pa mai ki a Tu (T. 6). Nau mai, e Rupe, taria e haere (M. 323).


tāringa,

n. Circumstance, etc., of waiting.


taritari,

v.i. Wait. I konei tonu au taritari atu ai (S. 20).


[Te Wiremu pg. 487]

whanga

4. v.i. Wait, lie in wait. Ka whanga te wahine nei ki era tungane ona (T. 45).


[Te Wiremu pg. 365]

taiwhanga

2. v.t. Lurk for, wait for. Naku rawa i huri atu ki te taiwhanga ki a Te Wherowhero (M. 148). ‖ whanga.


whanga

Kīhai i roa e whanga ana ka tīmata te heru mai o te tai, tere tonu te haere mai o te wai. Kīhai i taro kua tae mai ki te wāhi i noho ai a Parapoa rātou ko ōna hoa (TWMNT 2/5/1876:104). / He was not long waiting when the tide began to rise, and the waters rushed in. It wasn't long before they reached the place where Balboa and his companions were sitting.