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taonga

British  
/ tɑˈɔnɡə /

noun

  1. treasure; anything highly prized

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of taonga

Māori

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The feather is registered as a taonga tūturu under a system to protect Maori made objects.

From BBC • May 22, 2024

In another kitchen they might be thought compromised and tossed aside, but to Monique Fiso, a New Zealand chef of Maori-Samoan heritage, they are taonga, or treasure.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2018

In New Zealand, in the Maori world, this would be considered a taonga, a treasure, something sacred that you have to protect.

From Washington Post • Mar. 30, 2017

"The government doesn't accept that radio spectrum is a taonga," said Amy Adams, New Zealand's minister responsible for telecommunications.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 17, 2013

To create the taonga whakairo, or decorated treasures prized by the Maoris, a sculptor was expected to combine artistic skill with such qualities as leadership, courage, religious learning and generosity.

From Time Magazine Archive