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TE REO MĀORI 

Pronouncing Māori

The Māori alphabet is made up of 15 letters.

The vowels can be either long or short, these are marked by either a macron or a double vowel..

Short - a, e, i, o, u

Long - ā, ē, ī, ō, ū

Affirmations / Encouragement

Āe, marika - Yes, certainly

He rawe tō kōrero - What you have said is excellent

He tika koe! - You are correct

He tino āwhina koe - You have been very helpful

He tino pai tō mahi - Your work is great

Ka pai! - Good!

Ka pai tō pānui - Great reading

Kia manawanui - Keep going

Ka mau te wehi! - Awesome! Fantastic!

Ka pai hoki koe - Good on you

Ka rawe - Awesome

Kei runga noa atu koe! - You're the best!

Kia maia - Be brave

Kia mau - Hang in there!

Kia kaha - Keep going, be strong

Kia manawanui - Be determined

Koia kei a koe! - You're great!

Mahia atu! - Go for it!

Tika - Correct/True

Tino pai - Very good

Greetings & Farewells

Ahiahi mārie - Good afternoon

Ata mārie - Good morning

Hei konei rā - Goodbye!

Ka kite anō - See you again

Kei te pēhea koe? - How are you?

Kei te pai ahau - I am fine

Kia ora - Hello (informal)

Kia pai te rā - Have a good day

Kia pai tō wā whakatā - Have a good holiday!

Ko wai tō ingoa? - What's your name?

Mā te wā - Until next time

Nau mai, haere mai - Welcome!

Ngā mihi o te ata - Good morning

Nō hea koe? - Where do you belong? / Where are you from?

Nō Tamaki Makau rau - I am from Auckland

Pō mārie - Good evening

Tēnā kōrua - Hello (to two)

​Tēnā koutou - Hello (to three or more)

Instructions

E noho - Sit down

E tū - Stand up

Haere mai ko konei! - Come here!

Homai - pass/give (to me)

Homai te pukapuka/pene - Give me the book/pen

Kei hea te pene? - Where is the pen?

Kia tere - Be quick

Me kai tātou - Let's eat

Me waitata tātou - Let's sing

Titiro mai - Look

Whakarongo mai - Listen

Words and phrases we used in our pōwhiri

Haere mai - Welcome!  Enter!

Nau mai - Welcome

Karanga - the ceremony of calling to the guests to welcome them

Manuhiri - Guests, visitors

Tangata whenua - Original people belonging to a place

Waiata - Song that follows someone speaking

Iwi - people, tribe

Kaumātua - Elder(s)

Rangatira - Person of chiefly rank

Hongi - To press noses in greeting and welcome

Karakia - A prayer/chant

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