kakama
1. (stative) be quick, nimble, alert, active, capable.
Pōuri atu koutou te hunga kāore i te ngākau nui mai kia tahuri ake ai a ngāi kakama, a ngāi hihiko, a ngāi whakakoro ki te pupuri, ki te whakaora (TTTT 2006:12). / Step aside you people who do not value the language so that we can concentrate on the people who are sharp, intelligent and keen to hold onto and save it.
Synonyms: kamakama, tūkawikawi, kama, pepeke, māngi, tere, naho, teretere, whitawhita, hihiko, horo, pekepeke, horohoro, hohoro, wawewawe, whiwhita
2. (noun) alertness, quickness, astuteness, perspicacity.
Nā te kakama o Te Kooti, ka whakahekea iho tāna utu i tā ngā Pākehā kaiapo (TTR 1990:217). / Because Te Kooti was astute, he undercut the prices of those of the greedy Pākehā.
Synonyms: tere, parahutihuti
