The full word is mana aki with the tanga meaning the process of doing or completing an action. This is one of the most important words in all of Māoridom.

-          Mana is the supernatural force within all of us or a place or an object. Everyone has mana. Mana is enduring and indestructible. It is the essence within a person or a place or an object. At no stage should someones mana be belittled.

-          Aki is to uplift or to encourage.

When combined and written as Manaakitanga. It means that we should always look to uplift the mana of someone else or a place or an object at all times. In a marae setting. When Manuhiri arrive, we should always look to uplift their mana in every possible way.

Loosely translated to the word teach, to learn, to study, instruct or advise. The word ako is derived from the two words “a” and “ko”. It represents a reciprocal non-hierachical relationship between the student and the teacher.

-         a is to belong or from one person.

-         Ko is belonging to another person.

An example of how ako works is the story of the first school here in Hauraki. (Located not too far from Elstow. Down towards the bridge before the Morrinsville Tahuna intersection.)

Parents would drop their tamariki off to the school. At the end of the school. The Kaiako would teach the tamariki and at the end of the day, the tamariki would return home and teach their parents. The following morning the parents would bring their kids into school and then recite to the kaiako what their tamariki had taught them. From records this was word for word of what the tamariki had learnt the previous day.

Hence the term ako where the learning is passed from one to another with no hierarchy of who can teach who and how the transmission of knowledge is intergenerational and passed from one to another.

This refers to someone who aims for the sky and seeks those challenges that would seem far off. They are the ones who do not see obstacles but instead look for solutions to achieve what their heart desires. Nothing is too difficult for them as they continually look for solutions. Sometimes called the dreamer who isn’t afraid to step outside the normal and try something different. They were often called the dreamer as no one else would even think about trying something different. They are never put off from challenges but instead look for solutions.

Toitoi manawa is a descriptive version of how toitoi grows. When toitoi grows, it relies on toitoi around it to stimulate its growth. The more positives around toitoi the better it grows. If all elements are present for growth, then toitoi will flourish.

When adding in manawa. We are trying to stimulate the heart (manawa) to grow in confidence and be motivated to try new things. This saying was used more when wanting to motivate groups to progress or succeed in what they were aspiring to do.