Pakeha

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English

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori pākehā (stranger).

Pronunciation

Proper noun

Pakeha

  1. (New Zealand) A non-Maori, especially a European New Zealander.
    • 2003, Michael King, The Penguin History of Aotearoa New Zealand, Penguin, published 2023, page 134:
      They were the kind of Pākehā who, in the eyes of the Protestant missionaries, set a bad example to Māori.
    • 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →ISBN:
      Henry asked if missionaries were now active on the Chathams at which Mr Evans & Mr D’Arnoq exchanged looks, & the former informed us, ‘Nay, the Maori don’t take kindly to us Pakeha spoiling their Moriori with too much civilization.’

Usage notes

  • "Pakeha" is capitalised when referring to ethnic Europeans specifically.
  • Some New Zealanders prefer New Zealand European (formal) or Kiwi (informal).
  • Although "Pakeha" is widely used in politics and media, the use of "New Zealand European (Pakeha)" in the New Zealand 1996 census provoked a "significant adverse reaction" and the word "Pakeha" was subsequently removed.
  • In New Zealand English, macrons are often used to reflect the word's Maori origin.

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References