"Te Tumu Matehuka o Aotearoa"
As described by Board member, Kaumatua Graham King (Ngati Tai), the literal translation of Matehuka is ‘death by sugar’. This is apparently not necessarily the actual translation when referring to medical terms prefaced by the word ‘mate’ as it often refers to the possible end outcome.
When using ‘mate’ in a medical sense it needs to considered that it can also mean disease or illness or malaise of some kind and that a number of serious medical conditions are prefaced by the word ‘mate’ such as matepuku which is a phrase used for stomach cancer.
Thank you to Graham, for making sure the name of our organisation acknowledges the fundamental importance of Tangata Whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi through Te Reo, and that to do this we have just the right translation, with the right context. Go here for more information on our history and values.
