Whakataukī (or proverbs) express the wisdom, wit and commonsense of whakaaro Māori. They are of great value and inspiration to writers, story-tellers and anyone speaking in a Māori setting.

Several hundred proverbs are contained in The Raupō Book of Maori Proverbs, categorised under a large number of diverse headings, with translations and explanations in English. This comprehensive and dependable book serves as both a useful reference and an insight into Māori values.