Ngāi, ngāti, tribal prefix. 1. The prefix, which means tribe or clan, is equivalent to nga ai, nga ati, as may be seen from the use, chiefly poetical, of such forms as Ati Awa. Ko to te Ati Awa rangatira tenei ko Tahuaroa (P. 90). In the name of a tribe or hapu the final element is generally an ancestral patronymic, as Ngati Tuwharetoa, but sometimes is a word used to commemorate some incident, as Ngati Kumara. The difference in use between ngai and ngati appears to be one of euphony: Ngaitahu, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngai Tai; but there is also a Ngati Tai. Occasionally the prefix is used with mea, to indicate an unidentified tribe. He iwi tautaua a Ngati-mea, he iwi toa a Ngati-mea (One tribe may be cowardly and another brave). ‖ Journ. Anthrop. Inst. xxxii, 183.
2. The prefix is sometimes used with a dual pronoun, maua, taua, korua, or a common noun, to indicate a group of persons not necessarily tribal. Ngai-maua, ngati-maua, I and my people, or I and my party. Engari ma Ngati-whakaheke anake taua tikanga ki te tango whenua mo ratou (But it is only invaders who adopt such a course as to appropriate land for themselves).
‖ ai (iii), ati (i).
Williams Dictionary
Ngai (i), n. 1. Dried leaves of raupo, flax, etc., used for walls or thatch of a house.
2. Tow, refuse in dressing flax.
Williams Dictionary
Ngai (iii), ngaingai, v.i. Pant, sob. Ha, te ngai ana, whakarongo ianaka (S. 35).
Williams Dictionary
