Wiktionary
n. (context NZ English) A non-Maori, especially a European New Zealander.
Wikipedia
Pākehā is a Māori language term for non-Maori or for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". Recently, the word has been used to refer inclusively either to fair-skinned persons or any non-Māori New Zealander. Papa'a has a similar meaning in Cook Islands Māori.
Its etymology is unclear, but the term was in use by the late 18th century, and in December 1814, the Māori children at Rangihoua in the Bay Of Islands were "no less eager to see the packaha than the grown folks". In the Māori language, plural nouns of Pākehā may include Ngā Pākehā (definite article) and He Pākehā (indefinite article). When the word was first adopted, the usual plural in English was Pakehas. However New Zealand English speakers are increasingly removing the terminal s and treating Pākehā as a collective noun.
Opinions of the term vary amongst New Zealanders. Some find it highly offensive, others are indifferent, some find it inaccurate and archaic, while some happily use the term and find the main alternatives such as "New Zealand European" inappropriate. In 2013, the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study carried out by The University of Auckland found no evidence that the word was derogatory, although only 14% of the overall respondents chose the term Pākehā with the remainder preferring New Zealander, New Zealand European or simply Kiwi.
- Redirect Pākehā
Usage examples of "pakeha".
I have also come to respect his understanding of the Maori situation with the pakeha intruder.
He is much taken with the pakeha boys, who soon learn Maori and teaches him English, including what Ikey would call a host of lively expressions fit to burn the ears off a church warden.
Maori have forsaken cannibalism and there is often talk that it is still practised in remote regions where the pakeha are afraid to go.
I am welcome to stay and that they will hide me from the pakeha policemen who might come looking.
Maori took to their backs, why will the pakeha whaling captain think we have acted badly?
The governor never does anything if a Maori is killed - only when a pakeha is killed!
Did she not swear at the Treaty that the Maori and the pakeha would be the same under her law?
As long as tribe fights tribe and Maori hates Maori, the pakeha will always win.
The pakeha do not win because their laws are more just or their God is more powerful, but because they all fight for one Queen.
The pakeha are not well pleased by these events and liken it to treason.
Chief Wiremu Kingi, though he be most powerful, now stands alone against the pakeha government.
I have done everything I can to avert war but the pakeha will not relent and are determined they should have land in the Taranaki, land the Maori do not wish to sell.
But it is defenceless against an artillery piece which can pound away remorselessly for as long as the pakeha likes, day and night.
But since the pakeha have brought the musket here, more than twenty thousand Maori have been killed defending their forts.
The pakeha soldiers do not wait for us to come against them but immediately attack, looting and burning several Maori villages without warning.