2. (modifier) early.
He whakataukī nā te Pākehā: 'Ma te manu moata ka mau ai te toke.' (TTT 1/8/1922:11). / A saying of the Pākehā is: 'The early bird catches the worm.'
See also tuata
3. (noun) promptness, readiness.
E tika ana kia nui ngā mihi a te iwi Māori ki te Pīhopa o Waikato, ki tōna moata ki te huhi i a tātau i tēnei hōnore (TTT 1/9/1929:1071). / It's appropriate that the Māori people should be full of praise of the Bishop of Waikato for his promptness in bestowing this honour on us.
