Skip to main content
Pākehā

Pākehā

9.9
A person in New Zealand who is not Māori, usually of European background
  • noun
  • /ˈpɑːkəˌhɑː/
  • New Zealand
: Pākehā
  • The history of Pākehā settlement in New Zealand is taught in local museums.

Examples

  • Some Pākehā have learned to speak the Māori language fluently.

  • Many Pākehā enjoy celebrating Māori culture.

  • Many Pākehā and Māori work together in New Zealand schools.

  • Are you a Pākehā or of Māori descent?

  • Most Pākehā enjoy celebrating their cultural holidays with their families.

  • In New Zealand, many Pākehā contribute to advocacy for Māori rights.

  • As a Pākehā, she learned about the history and traditions of the Māori people.

Surface Forms

Pākehā singular
Pākehās plural

Etymology

Pākehā comes from Māori and originally named early European visitors as 'strangers' or 'white people'. So, a Pākehā today is a person in New Zealand who is not of Māori descent, often with European roots.