Rahui

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A limited time frame during which usage of specific resources is halted to aid in their preservation
2. A temporary prohibition on the use of certain resources is established to promote their conservation and sustainability
3. An interval in which access to designated resources is restricted in order to facilitate their protection and regeneration

Etymology: Rāhui is a Māori word for a temporary restriction placed on a place, resource, or activity, usually to let it recover or to mark it as sacred or under a spiritual cause. In traditional Māori practice, a rāhui might close a stretch of coast, a river, or a fishing ground after a death or other tapu event, and it was lifted once the period ended or the relevant rituals were complete. The word is also used in Tahitian, which is why English speakers borrowed it from either language. Its modern English use is comparatively recent and mostly tied to New Zealand, where the word now appears in conservation and public-access contexts, such as closures of beaches or shellfish beds after pollution or as a gesture of respect following a tragedy. English has no single equivalent, so the borrowed form carries the cultural meaning along with the restriction itself.

Synonyms: prohibition, ban