Proverbs (or whakatauki) express the wisdom, wit and commonsense of the Maori people. They are of great value and inspiration to writers, story-tellers and anyone speaking in a Maori setting.

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