One way to learn more te reo Māori in a fun and interactive way is through the universal language of baking. Whether you're whipping up a batch of cookies or kneading dough for bread, we are sharing 10 common Māori vocabulary words and phrases that are handy for any baking enthusiast to incorporate into their everyday life.

These translations have come from the incredible resource 'Taku Puka Tohutao Tutatahi' — a brilliant fully illustrated Edmonds cookbook in te reo Māori with a glossary of te reo Māori words into English, translated by Dr. Jennifer Martin. The book is one of 100 Māori language books that Kotahi Rau Pukapuka Trust is working on translating. Each recipe has an illustrated step-by-step process to create classic New Zealand recipes, with all the instructions in te reo Māori. For a māmā who is still learning all the technical terms of baking and cooking in te reo Māori, this has been such a valuable resource to add to my kete when in the kitchen with my tamariki.

You can purchase the pukapuka here so you can always refer to the recipes and kupu when needed.

Kōrori(tia) — stir

Kōroritia kia hanumi ai.
Stir to combine.

Tātari(hia) — sift

Tātarihia atu te puehu parāoa me te puehu kānga ki te ranunga, ka whakahanumi ai kia hua ai he pokenga mohe.
Sift flour and cornflour into the mixture and combine to form a soft dough.

Tāwhiuwhiu(a) — whisk

Ki tētahi atu oko, tāwhiuwhiua te miraka, ngā hēki me te pata rewa. 
In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs and melted butter.

Pokepoke(a) — knead

Pokepokea te pokenga ki tētahi papa kua puehu parāoangia.
Knead the dough on a floured surface.

Wāwāhi(a) — divide

Wāwāhia te pokenga kia 8 ngā pōro.
Divide the dough into 8 balls. 

Takapapa(ngia) — flatten, roll out

Āta takapapangia te pokenga ki ō ringa, kia tapawhā ai te hanga, kia āhua 2 henemita hoki te mātotoru.
Gently flatten out the dough with your hands to form a square shape, about two centimetres thick.

Paepae tunu — cooking tray

Ūhia tētahi paepae tunu ki te rautunu.
Line a baking tray with baking paper.

Whakamātao(hia) — chill, to cool

Whakamātaohia ki te pouaka mātao mō te 20 meneti.
Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Pokaina — cut out

Pokaina ake ētahi whetū i te pokenga.
Cut the dough into star shapes.

Tunu(a) — cook/bake

Tunua ki te umu mō te 8-10 meneti, kia tūākōura rā anō rānei.
Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until pale golden.

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Wrapping this up, learning te reo through baking is more than just following recipes—it’s about bringing the language into our everyday lives in a fun and engaging way. Like trying a new recipe — don’t worry about getting it perfect the first time; it's all about trying out new words while you mix, stir, whisk and bake. This is a great way to get comfy with te reo and share it with your tamariki too.

Grab your copy of Taku Puka Tohutao Tutatahi, throw on an apron, and let te reo fill your kitchen as you make some (hopefully) delicious kai! 

Imagery courtesy of Edmonds. 

Baking Terms in Te Reo Māori - Instant Download

We have a practical digital resource for anyone looking to have nine of these terms displayed in their kāuta (kitchen) while they are still learning. Available as an instant download, this guide is ideal for displaying in your kitchen or gifting to a fellow baking enthusiast 🖤