🗣️ New Zealand: “It is a canoe we are all aboard”

Māori proverb · Oceania

He waka eke noa.

he wa-ka e-ke no-a

“It is a canoe we are all aboard”

We are all in this together — a shared journey demands that everyone paddles, an idea of collective responsibility.

About this proverb

This saying belongs to the oral tradition of New Zealand, a country in Oceania. Read the full collection of New Zealand proverbs, or explore the Proverbs of the World index.

Ka whawhai tonu mātou, Ake! Ake! Ake!

ka fa-fai to-noo maa-too a-ke a-ke a-ke

“We will fight on, forever and ever”

Unyielding perseverance — a Māori saying of tenacity: 'we will not give in', to the very end.

Proverbs are traditional folk heritage (public domain); the translation and explanation are our own plain-English rendering. Stored statically.

Traditional sayings from around the world, each with its original wording, a romanisation, a plain-English translation and what it really means.

Folk wisdom from 6 Africa countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 4 Americas countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 12 Asia countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 15 Europe countries in the collection.

Folk wisdom from 2 Oceania countries in the collection.