NgatiTai
In the history section of this article, it says that Ngati Paoa claimed bird-snaring rights over "...kaka (which means poo in maori)".
Properly understanding the Maori language is subject to correct pronunciation, especially of vowels, and of vowel-length. Incorrect pronunciation of words often gives entirely different meanings, including potentially offensive meanings.
The letter "A" in Maori is always pronounced like the "A" in "ahh" or "are" - car, bar, tar, Mars etc.
To indicate vowel \*length\* in written form (e.g. short "ah" or long "ahh"), long vowels in Te Reo can be represented either by a double-vowel (e.g. "Kaakaa") or with the use of Macrons (e.g. "Kākā"). Short vowels should just be written "as is" (e.g. "Kaka"). Unfortunately, it is still very common for most Maori words to be written with short vowels, which of course leads to misinterpretations of many Maori words, including "Kaka" instead of "Kaakaa" or "Kākā".
Kaakaa or Kākā (i.e. long vowel) would be pronounced "Car-Car" or "Kaah-Kaah", and refers to a native (and nowadays threatened) New Zealand species of Parrot. This is the bird referred to as having been snared by Ngati Paoa (Ngāti Pāoa) on Motutapu.
"Kaka" - i.e. with short vowels, should be pronounced something like "kucker" or "kuh-kuh" in English. It is a word that may refer to "poo" (i.e. excrement), although it can have other connotations also. This word has nothing to do with the Kākā snared by Ngāti Pāoa on Motutapu.
Properly understanding the Maori language is subject to correct pronunciation, especially of vowels, and of vowel-length. Incorrect pronunciation of words often gives entirely different meanings, including potentially offensive meanings.
The letter "A" in Maori is always pronounced like the "A" in "ahh" or "are" - car, bar, tar, Mars etc.
To indicate vowel \*length\* in written form (e.g. short "ah" or long "ahh"), long vowels in Te Reo can be represented either by a double-vowel (e.g. "Kaakaa") or with the use of Macrons (e.g. "Kākā"). Short vowels should just be written "as is" (e.g. "Kaka"). Unfortunately, it is still very common for most Maori words to be written with short vowels, which of course leads to misinterpretations of many Maori words, including "Kaka" instead of "Kaakaa" or "Kākā".
Kaakaa or Kākā (i.e. long vowel) would be pronounced "Car-Car" or "Kaah-Kaah", and refers to a native (and nowadays threatened) New Zealand species of Parrot. This is the bird referred to as having been snared by Ngati Paoa (Ngāti Pāoa) on Motutapu.
"Kaka" - i.e. with short vowels, should be pronounced something like "kucker" or "kuh-kuh" in English. It is a word that may refer to "poo" (i.e. excrement), although it can have other connotations also. This word has nothing to do with the Kākā snared by Ngāti Pāoa on Motutapu.
