WHAKATAU

He kokonga whare, e kitea, He kokonga ngakau, e kore e kitea.

A corner of a house can be seen and examined, Not so the corners of your heart.

He kotuku kai whakaata, ehara i te parera apu paru.

A white heron peering upon its food, not a mud gobbling duck.

(Applied to host who refrains from eating whilst attending to needs of his guest).

He kaka ki te haere, he kuku ki te kainga.

A kaka when travelling, a pigeon at home.

(Applied to a person who when travelling loudly announces his approach to a village, but in his own home sits quietly whilst travellers pass by).

Reo Takiwa