Which forms of Maori waiata express laments, love, courtship, gossip, and praise?

In the context of Maori oral tradition, scholars Mervyn McLean and Margaret Orbell identified specific categories of waiata (songs) based on their thematic content and function. These forms include:1

• Waiata tangi: These are laments composed for the dead, or to express grief over other forms of loss or misfortune.1
• Waiata aroha: These songs explore the nature of love, encompassing not only romantic or sexual love but also affection for one's kin or ancestral lands.1
• Waiata whaiaaipo: These are specifically songs of courtship or those composed in praise of a beloved.1
• Pao: These are categorized as gossip songs.1

While these waiata cover the themes you mentioned, other traditional forms exist for different purposes, such as oriori for teaching children their heritage, karanga for welcoming visitors, and various chants like paatere—which serve to rebut gossip or slander—and kaioraora, which express hatred toward enemies. These performances are deeply integrated with gesture and, in many cases, music.1