A challenge, originally one issued by an armed Maori warrior.
the seminars were essentially a wero to the students
Example sentencesExamples
He advocated that Maori children "learn English first" and called for the elimination of the wero in favour of "a handshake or an honour guard or something".
On some occasions, a formal wero (challenge) may commence the rituals.
As first-timers they all receive a formal welcome that begins with the spine-chilling wero (challenge by one of the local warriors).
A 35-strong group of Maoris performed a ceremonial challenge called the wero to determine whether the visitors were friend or foe.
Advancing towards them is a warrior with full moko; the wero is intense.
She has a wero for one of New Zealand's most successful Maori artists.
Like the haka, the wero is one of those things that make New Zealand unique, and I think it has similar widespread public acceptance.
A wero can be threatening and punishing but a koha is more likely to be accepted as a peaceful gesture.
There was somebody doing the wero, holding a wooden stick, a spear, in their hand in a very warrior-like welcome.
There were some stunningly ignorant comments on the wero, asking why important visitors to New Zealand were greeted by "a Maori New Zealander jumping around half naked".