whānau

Yeah, it's respectful to address people with familial terms when speaking Māori, which has led to using Māori terms when speaking English too. Elders are aunts and uncles. Peers are bro, sis and cuz. Guests are whānau. Not addressing people as family seems like they're not welcome.

If Māori is worth using, it's worth using right - whānau : r/newzealand 2026

It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia.

SamNeillTheProp on Instagram: "It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life. The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care. More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss." 2026