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The Maori condition, having left a will (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

testate

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'having left a will' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'the maori condition' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is located in the answer.
'condition' could be 'estate' (I've seen this before) and 'estate' is present in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for testate that I've seen before include "With a legally valid will" , "Having made a will before death" , "Having left a legacy" , "Having written a valid will" , "Leaving a will" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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