hapu

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n.


Maori word for sub-tribe; sometimeseven, family.

1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand, the Britain of the South,'vol. i. p. 162:

«The 70,000 semi-civilised natives now in New Zealand aredivided into some dozen chief tribes, and into numeroussub-tribes and `harpu.'»

1873. `Appendix to Journals of House of Representatives,'vol. iii. G. 7, p. 87:

«Were not all your hapu present when the money was paid? Myhapu, through whom the land Nvas claimed, were present: wefilled the room.»

1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 171:

«An important structure that engaged the united labours of thehapu.»

1887. J. White, `Ancient History of the Maori,' vol. i. p. 290:

«Each of which is subdivided again into Hapu, or smallercommunities.»

1891. Rev. J. Stacks, `Report of Australasian Associationfor the Advancement of Science,' vol. iii. sect. G. p. 378:

«On arriving in New Zealand, or Ao-tea-roa, the crews of thecolonizing fleet dispersed themselves over the length andbreadth of these islands, and formed independent tribes ornations, each of which was divided into hapus and the hapusinto families.»