However, it's important to note that Māori has a dual-gender system for parent words. While Mātua can mean "mother" or "father," it is often used to refer to both parents collectively.
To specifically say "mother," you would use Whaea.
Here's a breakdown:
* Mātua: Both parents, or either parent individually
* Whaea: Mother
* Matua tane: Father
Remember, the specific meaning of "Mātua" depends on the context and how it's used within a sentence.