The meaning of ‘Mana’ in Polynesian culture

In Polynesian culture mana is analogous to respect, but also combines elements of authority, power, and prestige. To have ‘mana’ essentially is to have influence and authority. This quality of mana is not limited to persons; people, governments, places and inanimate objects can also possess mana. People or objects that possess mana are accorded respect because their possession of mana correspondingly gives them authority, power and prestige. In Maori, a tribe that has ‘mana whenua’ is considered to have demonstrated their authority over a given piece of land or territory. The meaning is complex because mana is a basic foundation of the Polynesian worldview. The mana is viewed as a spiritual quality considered to have supernatural origin; a sacred impersonal force existing in the universe.