Posted by Matua – taken from www.maoridictionary.co.nz
1. (noun) parents – plural form of matua.
2. (particle) be first, important, large, must – stands before verbs to indicate that the activity is/was/should be carried out first, before some other stated or implied action
3. a) (stative) main, chief, important, primary.
b) (noun) father, parent, uncle.
c) (noun) division (of an army), company, contingent, the body of the kapa haka.
wild & grace 