Toru

/ˈtɔːruː/ noun

Definition

A Maori word for a traditional Polynesian chief or leader with spiritual and political authority.

Etymology

From Maori and other Polynesian languages, 'torunga' or 'tohu' (to stand out, be prominent). The word reflects Pacific Islander concepts of hereditary leadership and mana (spiritual power).

Kelly Says

In Maori culture, a tohu wasn't just a ruler—they were believed to have a spiritual connection to the land and their people, making leadership an almost sacred responsibility rather than a political position.

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