Colour is meaningful in Māori culture. Colours extend far beyond their simple description, and in traditional art, carving, and weaving, colours can carry symbolic significance. Red can mean life and power, black can mean potential, and white can mean purity and peace. Before you can start describing this symbolism, however, you'll need to learn the Māori words for colours and how to use them in sentences.
The best place to start learning colours in te reo Māori is with the most basic colours, as they're usually used to describe everything from objects to members of your family. With each colour often tied to the natural world and spirituality, knowing the words and their meaning is essential. You'll not only learn how to say the words, but you'll start gaining an understanding of Māori beliefs and worldview.
Starting with primary and basic colours makes the most sense. | Photo by Nick Fewings
Primary Māori Colours
Whero – Red
Kōwhai – Yellow
Kākāriki – Green
Kikorangi – Blue
Pango – Black
Mā – White
Example Sentences
He whero te waka. – The canoe is red.
He kōwhai te putiputi. – The flower is yellow.
He kākāriki ngā rau. – The leaves are green.
He kikorangi te rangi i tēnei rā. – The sky is blue today.
He pango te kuri. – The dog is black.
He mā tōna kākahu. – Her clothes are white.
There are over
500
Māori immersion schools (kura kaupapa Māori) operating across Aotearoa today.
Secondary and Descriptive Colours
Once you have the hang of the basic colours, move on to some of the less common colours. Remember that colours are often culturally specific so sometimes the exact translations won't be correct. Try to see examples of the colour next to your new Māori vocabulary and then try using them in sentences, perhaps after learning some new vocabulary for animals in Māori.
Parauri – Brown
Karaka – Orange
Kiwikiwi – Grey
Kōura – Gold
Hiriwa – Silver
Kākā – A reddish or russet tone
Uruangi – Rainbow or multicoloured
By learning more colours, you can enrich your language use. | Photo by Frank Samol
Example Sentences
He parauri te ngeru. – The cat is brown.
He karaka te rēmana. – The orange is orange.
He kiwikiwi te kapua. – The cloud is grey.
He kōura te mowhiti hou. – The new ring is gold.
He hiriwa te motokā o Hine. – Hine’s car is silver.
He kākā te tae o te manu. – The bird’s feathers are reddish.
He uruangi te ārai i te rūma moe. – The bedroom curtain is rainbow-coloured.
Cultural and Symbolic Meanings
The colours in Maori often have symbolic meaning, which can extend to how they're used or simply how they're perceived, with certain colours even relating to blood and the human body. Certain colours will be used more often in certain situations than others because of their symbolism. Linking the meaning to the words can also help you remember them.
It's common for cultures to associate colours with symbolism, but these associations aren't universal across cultures. | Photo by Aaron Mickan
Whero (Red): Symbolises life force (mauri), blood, and sacred energy. It represents high rank, strength, and connection to ancestors.
Mā (White): Represents purity, peace, enlightenment, and spiritual clarity. Often associated with light and the divine.
Pango (Black): Signifies potential, creation, and the void from which life emerges. It also represents prestige and power.
Kākāriki (Green): Symbol of growth, renewal, and the natural world. Linked to forests, plants, and new beginnings.
Kōwhai (Yellow): Associated with warmth, energy, and learning. The kōwhai tree’s golden flowers symbolise knowledge and personal growth.
Kikorangi (Blue): Reflects the sky, water, and serenity. Connected with calmness, trust, and communication.
Parauri (Brown): Represents earth, stability, and connection to the land (whenua).
Kōura (Gold): Symbolises wealth, prestige, and achievement.
Hiriwa (Silver): Linked to reflection, balance, and the moon’s gentle light.
Uruangi (Rainbow / Multicoloured): Represents diversity, unity, and the harmony of all people under one sky.
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Traditional Māori Pigments and Colour Sources
Māori artists traditionally made paints from natural materials found in Aotearoa. Kōkōwai (red ochre) was mixed with shark oil or bird fat for durability, black pigments came from soot or burnt wood, and white paint was made from burnt shell or clay. These pigments symbolised the connection between art, land, and ancestry, ensuring that every design carried both beauty and spiritual meaning.
Just like saying the numbers for telling the time, the words for colours in Māori aren't just used in isolation. You have to learn how to use them naturally in conversation. Generally, the words for colours come after the noun they describe, which is the reverse of how it's done in English and something you'll have to get used to. That's not all, though, so you should learn the grammar rules for using colours in te reo Māori sentences.
Adjective Order and Grammar Rules
Word Order: In Māori, colour words come after the noun. He waka whero – A red canoe (literally “a canoe red”).
Plural Agreement: Colours do not change for plural nouns. He waka whero (a red canoe) / He waka whero katoa (all red canoes).
Intensity Modifiers: Add tino (very) or āhua (somewhat) before the adjective. He tino kākāriki te rākau. – The tree is very green. He āhua pango te rangi. – The sky is somewhat dark.
Combining Colours: Use me (and) to join two colour words. He mā me te pango te kuri. – The dog is black and white.
Descriptive Phrases: Add te tae o... (the colour of) for emphasis. He rite te tae o te moana ki te kikorangi. – The sea is the same colour as the sky.
According to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), around
23,000
adults were enrolled in Māori language courses in 2023.
Example Sentences with Colours
He kākāriki te whare o taku hoa. – My friend’s house is green.
He kōwhai te rama i te rūma kai. – The light in the dining room is yellow.
He whero tōna motokā hou. – Her new car is red.
He mā me te pango tōku t-hāte. – My t-shirt is black and white.
He pango te kuri nui i te papa tākaro. – The big dog at the park is black.
He parauri te whenua i te ua. – The ground is brown after the rain.
He kōura te kākahu o te kaiwhakaari. – The actor’s costume is gold.
He uruangi ngā pukapuka i runga i te tēpu. – The books on the table are multicoloured.
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Colours in Māori Carving and Weaving
In whakairo (carving) and raranga (weaving), colours hold symbolic roles. Red and black are often paired in carvings to represent balance (life and death, energy and rest) while white adds spiritual purity. In weaving, combinations of kōwhai, kākāriki, and mā bring harmony to designs and tell stories about family, land, and tribal identity.
Pronunciation Tips for Colour Words
Struggling to say your new vocabulary. Learning any new words will take time. Here are a few tips to help you.
Say Every Vowel: Māori vowels are always pronounced separately. Whero → “feh-raw,” Kākāriki → “kah-kah-ree-kee.”
Macrons Matter: A macron (¯) means hold the vowel longer — it changes meaning and rhythm. Mā (white) vs ma (clean).
Rolling the “R”: Words like whero and kākāriki use a soft rolled “r.” Touch the roof of your mouth lightly when saying it.
“Wh” Sound: Pronounced like an “f,” gentle and airy. Whero sounds like “feh-roh.”
Avoid English Stress: Māori pronunciation flows evenly — no heavy stress on one syllable. Kikorangi → “kee-koh-rah-ngee,” not “KEE-ko-RANG-ee.”
Practice Tip: Listen to Māori songs for children (especially colour songs) — repetition through music helps lock in both tone and rhythm.
Fun Ways to Learn Māori Colours
It's much easier to learn the words for colours if you enjoy yourself while doing it. While games are often integrated into language lessons for children, adults also enjoy the benefits of learning being fun and engaging. Try a few of these ideas.
The words for colours are some of the more fun lexical groups to explore. Get creative! | Photo by Khara Woods
Learn through songs and videos: Māori colour songs, such as Ngā Tae o te Ao, are perfect for beginners and kids. Singing along helps you hear pronunciation clearly and remember vocabulary through rhythm and repetition.
Use art and colouring activities: Paint or draw and label each object in te reo Māori: whero for red, kākāriki for green, kikorangi for blue. This visual learning technique connects words to colours in a memorable way.
Label everyday objects: Place colour tags around your home or classroom. For example, write “he mā te pakitara” (the wall is white) or “he pango te tūru” (the chair is black). This daily exposure reinforces learning naturally.
Explore Māori art and weaving: Visit local galleries or marae to see traditional raranga (weaving) and whakairo (carving). Notice how colours like red, black, and white are used to represent balance, ancestry, and harmony.
Practise with online resources: Many websites and apps offer free Māori language games, quizzes, and pronunciation guides. Interactive learning helps you build confidence and track your progress over time.
Learn with others: Join a study group, language club, or te reo Māori class. Practising with friends or whānau helps you stay motivated and improves your speaking and listening skills.
Connect colours to nature: Observe the green (kākāriki) of the trees, the blue (kikorangi) of the sky, and the gold (kōura) of the sun. Linking words to real-world examples strengthens memory and cultural understanding.
Create flashcards or posters: Write each colour with its English meaning, Māori translation, and an image. Use these as a quick review before class or during your study time.
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Tip
The key to mastering colours in Māori is regular use. Try describing what you wear each morning or the colours you see on a walk. This transforms passive vocabulary into active language skills.
It may be for kids, but songs are an easy way for learners of all ages to better remember new vocabulary in any language.
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Joseph P
Joseph is a French and Spanish to English translator, copywriter, and all-round language enthusiast.
The word for “colour” is tae. For example, te tae o te rangi means “the colour of the sky.” You can use it to describe anything, from clothes to natural landscapes.
🖌 What are the main colours in Māori?
The basic colours arewhero (red), kōwhai (yellow), kākāriki (green), kikorangi (blue), pango (black), and mā (white). Each has deep cultural symbolism in te ao Māori.
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