Utu (Māori concept)

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Utu is a Māori concept of reciprocation or balance.

To retain mana, both friendly and unfriendly actions require an appropriate response, hence utu covers both the reciprocation of kind deeds,[1] and the seeking of revenge.[2]

Utu is one of the key principles of the constitutional tradition of Māori along with whanaungatanga (the centrality of relationships), mana and tapu/noa (the recognition of the spiritual dimension).[3]

Utu can also be used in reference to monetary repayments, paying or repaying.[4]

Cultural references[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Utu". Ministry of Justice, New Zealand. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  2. ^ "UTU - Payment and Revenge, an Eye for an Eye"
  3. ^ Jones, Carwyn (2019). "Māori and State visions of law and peace". Indigenous peoples and the state : international perspectives on the Treaty of Waitangi. Mark Hickford, Carwyn Jones. London. ISBN 978-0-367-89544-0. OCLC 1124338401.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "utu - Māori Dictionary". maoridictionary.co.nz. Retrieved 10 September 2019.

External links[edit]