Hē Pataka Reo

Papa Reo
HE PĀTAKA REO
He Whakamārama - Introduction
2
Kia ora! Nau mai, takahia Te Ara Reo Māori. Welcome to this reference resource for Māori
language beginners. This book has been compiled to help you in your journey of learning the
Māori language. There are four sections contained in this resource.
Section 1: Word Indexes

Words are presented in two sections for quick reference, Māori to English, followed by English to
Māori.
Headwords are given in a bolder, bigger font for easy reading. Where the word belongs to a
class of words or can be used as various types of word-classes in different contexts, the letter of
that class is given in brackets. A simplified system of indicating whether the word is a base or
a particle has been used here. Bases are indicated by the following abbreviations: (n) noun; (v)
verb; (a) adjective; (pron) pronoun; (num) numeral; (st.v) stative or neuter verb. Particles are
indicated by the notation (p). The meaning of a word follows the classification. Where there is
more than one meaning of a word, those meanings are numbered. It should be noted here that
the list of meanings for words is not exhaustive. The most useful and appropriate meaning of a
word is given here as a foundation for increasing vocabulary within the context of the Papa Reo
programme. Sometimes, explanations of appropriate use and examples are given to make the
context of a word more clear. The ( ) symbol introduces a dialectal variation of a word. Where
phrases or expressions are given as headwords, the meaning or use follows after a dash (-). Verbs
that can be made passive are provided with a passive ending or form in brackets, e.g. ako (-ngia,
akona). Placenames are included in the index if they have an English and a Māori alternative, e.g.
Kirikiriroa = Hamilton.
Section 2: Theme Pages

Theme pages reflect the topics covered in Papa Reo, including household objects, personal and
place names, transport, birds, insects and animals, time, months, days and seasons. This section
is particularly useful for visual learners and can also be used to test your knowledge of vocabulary
as you progress by covering the words and trying to name the objects on each page.
Section 3: Speeches, Greetings, Prayers, Songs & Dance

This section aims to provide beginners with a repertoire of examples of speeches, songs and
prayers to increase awareness and understanding. These examples will serve you well in
understanding more about what happens in a Māori gathering, and will enable you to participate
in the proceedings as appropriate. The songs provided in this section have been recorded on the
Audio tapes to be included in Papa Reo resource packs.
Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Section 4: Activities Pages
These pages are for practice. Each unit within Papa Reo is covered within these pages. Use of a 3
pencil will enable you to use the pages again later. Answers are provided at the end of the book.
Try and resist the temptation to look at them until after you've completed the activities. Kia kaha!
Guide to pronunciation
Short sounds Long sounds
a as in but a as in tar
e as in egg e as in cheer
i as in igloo i as in fee
o as in order o as in for
u as in suit u as in food
h, k, m, n, p, w are pronounced as they are in English.
r has a soft trill, a little like the Scottish ‘r’.
t has a dull sound when coupled with vowels ‘a’, ‘e’, and ‘o’, and a sharper sound when
coupled with vowels ‘i’ and ‘u’.
ng is pronounced like ‘ng’ in sing.
wh is a soft ‘f’ sound, like the ‘ph’ in phone.
Abbreviations
n noun st.v stative or neuter verb
v verb p particle
a adjective Waik. Waikato
pron pronoun Mat. Mātaatua
num number East. Eastern

Contents
4
2 Introduction
7 SECTION ONE - Word Indexes
8 Maori to English
27 English to Māori
47 SECTION TWO - Ngā tatau - Theme Pages
48 Ingoa Wāhi - Placenames
49 Ingoa Tāngata - Personal Names
50 Kupu Āhua - Describing Words
51 Kupu Whakapapa - Relationship Words
52 Ngā Wāhanga o te Tinana - Parts Of The Body
53 Te Ūpoko - The Head
54 Ngā Wāhanga o te Tau - Seasons Of The Year
55 Ngā Marama o te Tau - Months Of The Year
56 Ngā Rā o te Wiki - Days Of The Week
57 Q: Ko Te Aha Te Wā? - A: Ko te rua karaka te wā
58 Te Tatau - Counting
59 Ngā Tae - Colours
60 Kihini - Kitchen
61 Rūma Horoi Kākahu - Laundry
62 Rūma Horoi Tinana - Bathroom
63 Rūma Moe - Bedroom
64 Rūma Noho - Living Room
65 He Manu - Birds
66 He Ngāngara - Insects
67 He Kararehe nō Tāwāhi - Animals
68 Ngā Kararehe Pāmu - Animals
69 He Kākahu - Clothing
70 He Momo Waka - Transport
71 Kupu Hāngai - Opposites
73 SECTION THREE - Oral Traditions
75 Karakia Timatanga
76 Karakia Whakamutunga
77 Karakia Kai
79 Mihimihi – Acknowledgements (an introduction)
88 Whakataukī - Proverbs
92 Iwi Dialects
94 Idioms, Colloquialisms, and the use of Slang
97 SECTION FOUR - Activity Pages

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98 Ngā ingoa wāhi
99 Aotearoa – New Zealand
100 Kōrero Tūtaki - Meeting people
101 Whanaungatanga - Relatedness
102 Kupu Whakapapa - Genealogy words
103 Whakapapa - Family tree
104 Kupu Ingoa - Nouns
105 Ngā Wāhanga o te Whare - Parts of the house
106 He Kararehe - Animals
107 Ngā Marama o te Tau - Months of the year
108 Ngā Wāhanga o te Tau - Seasons of the year
109 Ngā Rā o te Wiki - Days of the week
110 Te ūpoko
111 Wāhi – Kei hea a Rāhui? - Where is Rāhui?
112 Kupu Wā - Words for time
113 NGĀ WHAKAUTU - answers

6

7
Section One
Word Indexes
Māori to English - English to Māori

Puna Kupu ai (p) commonly used after a verb to show
8 Māori – English that the verb is a secondary focus.
Mā hea koe haere ai?
A. How will you travel?
ai (-tia) (v) procreate, to have sexual
a,ā 1. (p) of, belonging to intercourse
He reka ngā āporo a Hēmi. James’ apples are aihe (n) dolphin
sweet, 2. used before names and pronouns ake (p) direction upwards
Kei te kōrero a Hone. Kei te piki ake te tamaiti i te rākau
John is talking. The boy is climbing up the tree
He tāone nui a Tokoroa. ako(-ngia, ākona) (v) learn
Tokoroa is a big town. Kei te ako au i te reo Māori
ā (p) used to refer to future time I am learning the Māori language
Kei te haere au ki Rotorua ā te Paraire. akoranga (n) lesson
I’ll go to Rotorua on Friday. ako whakatere – accelerated learning
ā hea (question word) when (future only) aku (pron) my, belonging to me (one owner,
ā muri i tēnā - after that more than one possession)
ā tērā atu wiki – week after next āku (pron) my, belonging to me (one owner,
ā tērā wiki – next week more than one possession)
āe – yes He maha āku pene rākau
aha (question word) what I have many pencils
He aha? Ko te aha? What is? ākuanei - soon
Me aha? What should (be done)? Ākuhata (n) August
Ki te aha? To do what? Amerika (n) America
Kei te aha? What is happening? āmine (n) amen
Kua aha? What has happened? amo (n) carved upright posts, at front of
I aha? What happened? meeting house
ahakoa – although, despite, even though āna (pron) his, her (one owner, more than one
ahakoa he aha – no matter what possession)
ahau (pron) me, I = au anā (n) there (near the listener)
āheinga (n) function anahe, anake (p) only
ahi (n) fire Kotahi anake taku tōkena
ahi kā (n) burning fire, signifies a connection I only have one sock
to land when ‘home fires’ are kept burning anei (p) here (near the speaker)
ahiahi (n) afternoon anō 1. (p) again
ahiahi pō (n) evening Ka kite anō i a koe
Ahitereiria (n) Australia See you again, 2. another
Āhia (n) Asia He tī anō māu?
āhu (n) Steam Another tea for you?
āhua 1. (n) character, shape, form, āno hoki – indeed
appearance, looks, 2. (p) somewhat, rather anuanu (a) ugly
āhua pai – rather good anuhe (n) caterpillar
āhuatanga (n) aspect ao (n) world
Ahuriri (n) Napier Aotearoa (n) New Zealand – Land of the

Long (roa) white (tea) Cloud (ao) 2. used before a verb as a command
Āperira (n) April E tū. Stand up, 3. used before numbers 2-9 9
āporo (n) apple when referring to amounts of things
āpōpō - tomorrow E iwa ngā hēki. There are 9 eggs, 4. used
ara (p) path, road before terms of address
ara pū (n) alphabet Kia ora e hoa. Hi, mate
arā (n) there (yonder) e aua hoki – I don’t know
ārahi (-na) (v) guide, lead e kai – eat (an instruction)
ārani (n) orange e noho – sit (an instruction)
arapiki (n) stairs e noho rā – farewell (said to someone who is
arawhata (n) ladder staying)
arero (n) tongue e tū – stand up (an instruction)
arewhana (n) elephant ehara – not
ariki (n) chief Ehara koe i te tamaiti. You are not a child
aroha mai – excuse me, sorry ehara! – on the contrary
aroaro (n) front of body ēhea (question word) which (plural) = ēwhea
aroha(-ina) (v) to love, feel compassion e hika mā! - for crying out loud
ata (n) morning eke (v) climb on, ride
ata mārie – good morning ēnā (p) those (closest to the listener)
ātaahua (a) beautiful ēnei (p) these (closest to the speaker)
ātahirā – day after tomorrow engari - but
atawhai (-tia) (v) foster, nurture e pā aha - about
atu 1. (p) direction away from speaker ērā (p) those yonder (away from both speaker
Haere atu! Go away, 2. Used with tētahi to say and listener)
‘another’
Homai tētahi atu pukapuka H.
Give me another book
atua (n) god, supernatural being haeana (n) iron
au (pron) me, I haere (v) go, depart
aua (p) those (mentioned before) haere atu – go away
aua atu – never mind, not to worry haere mai – come here, welcome (come in)
autaia (a) strange, extraordinary haere rā – farewell (said to someone who is
awa (n) river going)
āwangawanga (v) to be uneasy in mind, haere tōtika - go straight ahead
disturbed, worried, anxious haerenga (n) journey, trip
Āwherika (n) Africa haerenga – wā heke – future holidays
awhi (-tia) (v) embrace, foster, help haerenga – wā mua – past holidays
āwhina (-tia) (v) help, assist haka 1. (v) dance, 2. posture dance, war
dance
E. hakahaka (a) low
haka pōwhiri – ceremonial welcome
e (p) 1. used before a verb with ana following accompanied by a haka = haka pōhiri
to denote a continuing action Hakihea (n) December
E moe ana taku pēpi. My baby is sleeping, hākinakina 1. (v) play sport, 2. sports

hanga ( -ia,a ) (v) build, to build Ki hea? Where to…?
10 hāngī (n) earth oven Nō hea? From where….?
Hānuere (n) January Mā hea? By what mode of transport?
hao (v) catch in a net I hea? Where was….?
hāora (n) hour Ā hea? When? (future only?)
The time is half past eight hei (p) at, in with, for, as, to
hāpai (-tia) (v) life, uphold 1.= e; kaua hei oma = kaua e oma, 2. with
hapū 1. (n) sub tribe, 2. (a) pregnant which to, for the purpose of
harakeke (n) flax plant He naihi tēnei hei tapahi i te mīti
hararei (n) holiday This is a knife to cut the meat
Haratua (n) May hei aha – never mind, not to worry
hari (-a) take heihei (n) chicken
hari (a) happy hei konā – farewell, goodbye
hari huritau – happy birthday heke (v) descend
harikoa – happy joyous hēki (n) egg
harirū (v) shake hands = rūrū hekona (n) second (time)
hātakehi (a) hard – case Hepetema (n) September
hau kāinga (n) home Heretaunga (n) Hastings
Haumiatiketike (n) god of the uncultivated Here-turi-kōkā (n) August
food hēneti (n) cent
haurua half heru (n) comb
Haurua mai i te toru karaka te tāima hia/hiahia (-tia) (v) want, desire
The time is half – past – three hiainu (a)thirsty
hautoru (n) one-third hiakai (a) hungry
haututū (v) naughty, mischief hiamoe (a) tired, sleepy
hauwhā (n) one-quarter hiawai (a) parched, thirsty
hāwhe pāhi half past Hī ika - fishing
he (p) a, an, some hika (n) a term of address commonly heard in
He motokā whero tēnei the East Coast of the North Island
This is a red car hiki (-na, -tia) (v) life up, raise up
He motokā whero ēnei hīkoi(-tia) walk
These are some red cars hīkoi haere – walk around
he aha ai – (question word) why hine (n) girl
he aha hoki! - no way! hinengaro (n) mind, set of the thoughts and
he kupu ārahi – guidelines emotions
he mahi – action(s) Hine-raumati – Summer maiden
he mea – a thing or things Hine – takurua – Winter maiden
he mea nui – a big thing or some big things hipi (n) sheep
he mea takitini – plural objects, or a lot of hipohipo (n) hippopotamus
things hiripā (n) slipper
he waka – modes of transport hiriwā (a) silver
he whakamārama – explanation(s) hīti (n) sheet
hea (question word) where (in place or time) hoa (n) friend, buddy
Kei hea? Where is…? hoa noho tata (n) neighbour

hoa rangatira (n) husband, wife, partner hū (n) shoe
hoa tāne (n) husband hua (n) fruit, benefit 11
hoa wahine (n) wife hua rākau (n) fruit
hoatu (-na) 1.(v) give (away from the speaker) hua whenua (n) vegetable
2. go forth hūare (n)spit, saliva
hoe (-a) 1. (v) to paddle, 2. (n) a paddle huhuti (-a) (v) to pull up, uproot
hōhā (a) fed – up, restless hui (-a) (v) meet, gather 2. (n) a gathering.
hōhonu (a) deep meeting
hōiho (n) horse huihuinga (n) gathering
hoihoi 1. (a) noisy, 2. to be quiet (an Hui-tānguru (n) February
instruction) huka (n) sugar, froth
hoki 1. (p) also hukapapa (n) snow
Kei te pīrangi hoki au ki te waiata huna (ia) (v) hide
I also want to sing, 2. hoki (-a) (v) return hunaonga (n) son – in law or daughter in law
Kei te hoki mai ngā ika hunga (n) group
The fish are coming back, 3. indeed hungarei (n) Mother in law. Father in law
Te nui hoki o ngā ngaru hungawai (n) Mother in law. Father in law
How big the waves are. Hune (n) June
hokinga (n) return hunga mate – the deceased
hoki mai - return, come back hunga ora – the living
hoko (-na) (v) buy, trade, sell Hūrae (n) July
hoko kai (v) buy or sell food huri (hia) (v) turn, change
hoko taonga (v) buy or sell gifts, or treasured huri noa – right around, throughout
possessions huruhuru – 1. (n) hair, feather, coarse hair,
homai (tia) (v) give (towards the speaker) bristles (not normally of the head), fur.
homai koa – please give (it) to me hurungutu (n) moustache
hononga (n) connection hūtu (n) suit
hongi (v) to press noses, to smell
Hōngongoi (n) July I.
hōnore (n) honor
hopi (n) soap i 1. (p) used to join action to the object of the
hora (-tia) (v) spread out action
horekau – not, nothing at all (Northern Ka kawe te tama i te pēke
dialect) The boy will take the bag
horekau=karekau=korekau - not, nothing 2. used to denote past time
at all I tae mai te pahi i te rua karaka
horo (a) quick The bus arrived at two o’clock
Kia horo 3. used to link a subject to its location
Be quick Kei runga te ngeru i te tūru
horoi (-a) (v) wash, bathe The cat is on the chair
horomi (-a) (v) swallow, devour 4. used to denote past location
horopaki (n) context I Tāmaki ahau inanahi
Hōtoke (n) winter I was in Auckland yesterday
hou 1. (a) new, 2. (v) enter Ia 1. (pron) s/he, him/her, 2. each, every

Me inu wai tātou ia rā, ia rā kai Iniana (n) Indian food
12 We should drink water every day kai Itāriana (n) Italian food
iho (p) from above, downwards, down kai kōhua (n) boil up
Ihoa (n) Jehovah, God kai Korea (n) Korean food
Ihu Karaiti (n) Jesus Christ kai Tairana (n) Thai food
ihu(n) nose kaiako (n) teacher = kaiwhakaako
ika (n) fish kaiāwhina (n) assistant
ināianei – now Kaihanga (n) creator of all things
inanahi – yesterday kaihanga (n) creator, builder
inanga (n) - whitebait kaihokohoko (n) trader
inapō - last night kaikaranga (n) caller
i nga wā katoa - all the time kaikōrero (n) speaker, orator
Ingarangi (n) England kaimahi (n) worker, employee
ingoa (n) name kaimoana (n) seafood
inoi (-tia) 1. (v) pray, request, 2. (n) prayer kāinga (n) home
inu (mia) 1. (v) to drink, 2. (n) a drink kāinga tupu (n) hometown
Io Matua Kore (n) Io the parentless one, kaipāmu ( n) - farmer
supreme being kairuku moana (n) - seafood diver
ipu (n) cup, glass, a vessel to carry liquid kai tākaro (n) - player
ira (n) mole, spot kaitiaki (n) guardian, caretaker
irāmutu (n) nephew or niece kaitohutohu (n) coach, advisor, instructor
Itari (n) Italy kaiwhakahaere (n) organizer, manager
iti (a) small, little Kaiwhakangahau (n) entertainer
iwa (num) nine kaiwhakaora (n) saviour, rescuer
iwa tekau mā iwa (num) ninety nine kaiwhakapāoho 1. (n) broadcaster.
iwi 1. people, a tribe, 2. bones kaiwhakatika (n) editor, person who fixes
iwi kāinga (n) home people things
kaiwhakatika motokā (n) mechanic
K. kaka (n) dress
kākā (n) parrot
ka (p) introduces a new verb, often used kākahu (n) clothes, garment
before a verb indicate future time kākahu kaukau (n) swimming togs
kā (ngia) (v) alight, burn kākahu moe (n) pyjamas
ka aroha hoki – how sad, what a shame kakama (a) quick, clever, intelligent
ka kite anō – see (you) again kakara 1. (a) fragrant, 2. (n) fragrance
kaha 1. (a) strong, 2. (n) strength kākāriki (a) green
kahurangi 1. (n) treasured possession, 2. (a) kake mai (v) ascend, come up onto
blue ka kinokē koe - you're too much!
kāhu (n) hawk kakī (n) neck
kai (n) food kakī roa (n) giraffe
kai (-ngia, -nga) (v) eat kamakama (a) quick
kai Āhia (n) Asian food ka mau te wehi! - awesome!
kai Hainamana (n) Chinese food kamo (n) eyeball
kai Hapanihi (n) Japanese food kamupūtu (n) gumboot

kānga (n) corn kawe (-a) (v) take, bring
kānga papi (n) popcorn kāwhe (n) calf 13
kangarū (n) kangaroo kei 1. (p) a present tense marker
kanikani (v) dance Kei te oma ngā rāpeti
kanohi (n) face, eye The rabbits are running
kāore – not, no 2. denotes present location
kāore e kore – no doubt Kei runga ngā kī i te tēpu
kāore e taea – (it) cannot be done The keys are on the table, 3. in possession of
kapa haka 1. (n) concert party, haka group, (not necessarily owned)
Māori cultural group, Māori performing group. Kei a Pita te motokā
kāpata (n) cupboard Peter has the car
kāpeti (n) cabbage kei raro e puta ana – down and out
kapu (n) cup kei te pēhea? - how's it going?
kapu kawhe (n) cup of coffee keke (n) cake
kapu tī (n) cup of tea kēkē (n)armpit
kapua (n) cloud kēmu (n) a game
karaka 1. (n) clock, 2. (a) orange kererū (n) pigeon
karakia (n) prayer, incantation, grace keri (-a) (v) dig
karanga(-tia) (v) call kete (n) - basket, kit
karapu (n) glove kī 1. (n) key, 2. (v) to say, speak
kararehe (n) animal kia (p) used to introduce a preferred future
kare (n) dear, a term of address action or state
karekau – nothing, no, not Kia tere
kāroti (n) carrot Be quick
karu (n) eye kīanga (n) phase
kata (-ina) (v) laugh kia ora – hello, greetings, g’day
kātahi (p) then kia tau - settle down
Ka haere tāua, kātahi ka hoki mai. kihi (-a) (v) kiss
We’ll go, and then (we’ll) return kihikihi (n) cicada
katakata (v) laugh kīhini (n) kitchen
katau right kikorangi (a) blue
kāti (n) stop kimi (-hia) (v) search
katoa (a) all, together, whole kimi mahi – seek work
kau (n) cow kimokimo (v) - to blink frequently
kaua – do not (command) kina (n) sea egg
kaua e pērā – don’t do that, don’t be like that kīnaki (n) relish, sauce
kauae (n) jaw kino (a) bad
kauhoe (n) swim kiore (n) rat
kaukau (n) swim Kirikiriroa (n) Hamilton
kaumātua (n) elderly person kirikiti (n) cricket
kaumātuatanga (n) age kirimangu (a) dark – skinned
kaupapa (n) subject, topic, reason kiritea (a) fair-skinned
kāuta (n) kitchen kiriweti (a) hot – tempered, impatient
kawau (n) shag kirokaramu (n) kilogram

kiromita (n) kilometer korimako (n) bellbird
14 kite (-a) (v) see, perceive koro (n) term of address for an elderly man
kitenga (n) vision korokoro (n) throat
kīwaha (n) an idiomatic saying koropupū (v) bubble up, boil
ko (p) used before names, pronouns and kororā (n) penguin
nouns korōria (n) glory
Ko Pererika tōku ingoa koroua (n) old man, grandfather, elderly man
My name is Frederick kōrua (pron) you two
kō yonder place kotahi (num) one
kō atu (n) the farther side kotahi rau (num) one hundred
ko wai – who is….? koti (n) 1. coat, 2. goat
koa (a) happy, joyful kōtiro (n) girl
Kōanga (n) Spring time koura (n) 1. Gold, 2. crayfish
koata ki te – quarter to (time) koutou (pron) you (more than two)
koata pāhi – quarter past (time) kōwhai, kōhai (a) yellow
koe (pron) you (one person) kōwhitiwhiti (n) grasshopper
koha 1. (n) gift, 2. (v) donate kōwhiuwhiu (n) fan
kōhanga (n) nest kua (p) precedes an action or state to denote
kōhanga reo (n) early childhood language the action or state begun in the recent past,
nest but may not have finished
kōhatu (n) stone, rock = pōhatu Kua oma te hoiho
kōhao (n) a hole The horse has bolted
kohete (-tia,-ngia) (v) growl, scold kūaha (n) door
Kohitātea (n) January kūare (a) ignorant
kōhua (n) pot kuhu (-na) (v) enter, go into
koi (a) sharp, pointed kui (n) term of address for an elderly woman
koia rā – that is kuia (n)grandmother, elderly woman
koi te hinengaro – on to it, sharp, kūmara (n) sweet potato
intelligent kupu arataki (n) introduction
kōkā (n) mother kupu (n) word
kokonati (n) coconut kupu āhua – describing word, adjective
kōkōtaia (n) a type of shovel used for kupu ārahi – guiding words, guideline
planting kupu hāngai – opposites
kōmako (n) bellbird kupu hou – new words, new vocabulary
konā – that place (closer to listener) kupu ingoa- a naming word, a noun
konei – this place (closer to speaker) kupu mahi – an action word, a verb
korā – that place yonder kupu wā – words related to time
kore – not, nothing, zero kupu wāhi – location words
korekau – not, nothing, nothing at all kura 1. (n) school, 2. (a) red
kōrere wai – (n) tap kura (v) ( -ngia, -ina) - to educate, teach, 2.
kōrero (-ngia, - tia, - hia) (n) schooling, school
1. (v) speak, say, talk, 2. (n) news, story, dis- kurī (n) dog, or canine
cussion, narrative kutikuti (n) scissors
kōrerorero (n)- converse kutu (n) headlice

kūwhā/kūha (n) thigh makawe (n) hair (of the head)
Makitānara (n) McDonald’s 15
M. māku – I will….
Mā wai e horoi te motokā ?
mā (a) 1. white, 2. e Mā – term of address for Who will wash the car?
mother, 3. (p) by means of or by way of Māku. I will
mā hea – how will (you travel)? i.e by what mākū (a) wet
mode of transport, or route māmā 1. (n) mother, 2. (a) easy
mā raro – (travel) by foot mamao (a) distant, far off or away
mā runga – (travel) by riding on something manaaki (-tia) (v) to look after,show
Mā runga taraka mātou haere ai kindness towards
We will travel by truck manawanui (a) stout-hearted patient
mā te wā – until then, or until some time in mangu (a) black
the future Mane (n) Monday
Māehe (n) March māngere (a) lazy
maeke (a) cold, chilly mano 1. (num) a thousand, 2. (a) many,
maha (a) much, many innumerable
māhaki (a) humble, mild – mannered manu (n) bird
mahana (a) warm, humid manuhiri (n) visitor - (manuwhiri dialectual)
mahau (n) porch manuhiri tūārangi (n) visitors from a far
mahi (-a) 1. (v) work Māori (n) general term for the indigenous
Kei te mahi kōrua? people of Aotearoa/New Zealand
Are you two working? māori (a) natural, ordinary
2.(n) job, activity, work He inu wai māori māu?
He aha tō mahi? Would you like a drink of water?
What’s your job? or What are you doing? māra (n) a cultivated ground, gardens
mahi ngahau – fun activity, hobby, leisure māra kai (n) vegetable garden
māhunga (n) head mara (n) a term of address (north)
Mahuru (n) September marae 1. (n) community gathering place or
mai (p) direction towards the speaker complex, 2. (a) hospitable, generous
Ka tae mai ngā manuwhiri ākuanei marae ātea (n) the area directy in front of
The visitors will arrive shortly the meeting house
2. mai i – past marama (n) moon
Haurua mai I te waru karaka te tāima mārama 1. (a) bright, clear, light, 2.
The time is half past eight understand
3. mai i - from maramara rīwai (n) potato chips
Kei te pupuhi te hau mai i te raki maramataka (n) calendar
The wind is blowing from the north. maranga (v) rise up, arise
maihi (n) the carved gable of the house mārie (a) gentle, quiet, appeased, peaceful
maikuku (n)fingernails, toenails marino (a) calm
maioha 1. (v) greet affectionately, 2. a deep mārō (a) hard, stubborn, headstrong
love or affection maroke (a) dry
mairo (n) milo mata (n) face, screen
makariri (a) cold mātakitaki (-na) (v) to watch, observe

mataku (a) scared, afraid way for the coming speech
16 mātāmua - eldest, first born mauritau (a) at ease or peace,absence of

matapihi (n) window panic
Matariki 1. (n) Pleiades – seven sisiters māwhero (a) pink
constellation, 2. the rising of matariki in May/ Māwhera (n) Greymouth
June marks the beginning of a new Māori me (p) 1. Must, should, ought to
calendar year Me haere koutou ki Rotorua
matau (a) right You all should go to Rotorua
mātau (-ria) 1. (v) to know, understand, 2. (a) 2. and, 3. with
knowledgeable, 3. (pron) = mātou me he – if, as if, like, as it were
mate 1. (st.v) dead, deceased, 2. (n) those Me he manu rere ahau e, kua riro ki tō
that have passed on moenga
mateinu (a) thirsty = hiainu If I were a bird, I would fly to your bed
matekai (a) hungry = hiakai mea 1. (n) thing 2. (v) speak, say
matemoe (a) tired = hiamoe Mei (n) May
matewai (a) dehydrated = hiawai menemene (v) smile
matimati (n) finger mēneti (n) minute
matiwae (n) toe miere (n) honey
mātou (pron) we, us (more than two miharo (-tia) - proud, admire
excluding person/s being addressed) = mātau mihi 1. (v) to greet,acknowledge, 2. (n)
matua (n) parent, father greeting
matua tipuna (n) grandfather mihi ki te tangata – greeting people
mātua (n) parents, relatives of your parents’ mīhini (n) machine, engine
generation, guardians mīhini heu (n) shaving machine
matua kēkē (n) uncle mīhini horoi kākahu (n) washing machine
mau (-ria) 1. (v) carry, bring, take up, lay hold mīhini kawhe (n) coffee machine
of, 2. (st.v) caught, seized, grasped mīhini kōrori (n) blender
I mau te ika mīhini tōhi (n) toaster
The fish was caught mīhini whakaata (n) videoplayer
3. (v) to wear mīhini whakamahana (n) heater
māua (pron) we, us (two people exclusing the mīhini whakamaroke kākahu (n) clothes
person being addressed) dryer
mauī (a) left mingimingi (a) – prickly
māuiui (a) sick, unwell mira (n) mirror
maumahara 1. (v) remember, 2. (n) miraka (n) milk
memories miraka pē (n) yoghurt
maunga (n) mountain miriona (n) million
maungārongo (n) peace miro (n) thread
mauri (n) life principle, essence mīti (n) meat
mauriora – vitality of life principle mō (p) for, about
Tīhei Mauriora! Anei tētahi koti mō Pīta
Behold! ‘Tis the breath of life. Here’s a coat for Peter
Often used before speech-making to gain moata (a) early
listeners’ attention, break the ice and clear the moana (n) sea, ocean, salt water

moe (-a) (v) 1. sleep, dream Nāku i tunu te keke
2. marry I baked the cake 17
moemoeā (n) dream, aspiration nāna (pron) by him/her, belonging to him/her
moenga (n) bed nā reira – therefore
moenga pēpi (n) cot nā te mea – because
mōhio (v) know nā wai 1. who did (an action), 2. whose is…
mōhiti (n) eye glasses = mōwhiti naihi (n) knife
mōkai (n) - pet nama waea (n) phone number
mokopuna (n) grandchild namunamu (n) sandfly
mokopuna tuarua (n) great grandchild nana (n) nanny
momo (n) type nau mai – welcome
mōmona (a) fat, overweight nāu, nāhau (pron) belonging to you (1
moni (n) money person)
mōrena – good morning nēhi (n) nurse
mōteatea (n) lament, song of mourning nē rā? – is that right
motokā (n) car, motor vehicle nei (p) used after words to refer to something
motopaika (n) moto bike near the speaker
Motupōhue (n) Bluff neketai (n) neck tie
mōwhiti (n) - glasses, spectacles netipāoro (n) netball
moutere (n) an island = motu ngā (p) the (plural)
mua 1. (n) the front, 2. before – in past or ngā hui – meetings
future time Ngā Moutere o te Moana – nui – a –
mūhi (n) moose Kiwa – The islands of the South Pacific
muramura (a) bright, red, blush, the bright Ocean; Pacific Islands
red colour of the sun at sunrise ngā pūmanawa – attributes, talents
muri 1. (n) the rear, behind, back, 2. ngā rōpū tāngata – groups of people
afterwards ngā ūmanga – professions
mutu (st.v) be finished ngā wāhanga o te marae – the parts of
the marae
N. ngā wāhanga o te tinana – parts of the body
ngahau (a) fun, enjoyable
nā (p) 1. used after words to refer to ngahere (n) forest
something near the listener ngahuru 1. (num) ten, 2. (n) Autumn
Homai te āporo nā ngāi (n) introduces a tribal group
Pass the apple (by you)
ngākau (n) heart, seat of affections or
2. belonging to, possessed by
feelings
Nā wai tēnei pene?
ngākau māhaki – gentle spirit, mild-
Whose is the pene?
mannered, kind
3. because of, by reason of
ngākau nui – big hearted, a giving person
Nā tōna kaha ka toa ia
ngāku (pron) my/mine (Waik) = āku, wāku
Because of his strength he won
(Māt)
nāku (pron) by me, belonging to me, mine, of
Ngāmotu (n) New Plymouth
mine
ngārara (n) insect
Nāku te pukapuka whero
ngaro (st.v) lost, gone, out of sight, missing
The red book is mine

ngata (n) 1. snail, 2. satisfied E oho! Wake up!
18 ngāti (n) clan, tribe Oketopa (n) October
ngaungau (v) - chewing oko (n) bowl
ngā whitu (n) - sevens ōku (pron) my/mine (one owner, more than
ngenge (a) tired, run – down, eshausted, one possession) = ngōku, wōku
weary oma (-ngia) (v) run
ngeri (n) traditional chant ōna (pron) his or her (one owner, more than
ngeru (n) cat on possession)
ngira (n) needle ono (num) six
ngoikore (a) weak, listless ope (n) group
ngōki (v) crawl ora (a) alive, well, in good health, safe
ngōku (pron) my/mine = ōku (Waik) oranga (n) life, survival
ngongoro (v) snore oranga tonutanga – everlasting life
ngutu (n) - lips oro (n) sound, rumble
niho (n) teeth, tooth oro kati (n) consonant
nō 1. (p) from, 2. belonging to Ōrongonui (n) the moon on the twenty
nō hea – from where? Regarding a place, eighth day. Also a season name, apparently
region, tribe = nō whea including summer and autumn
nō reira – therefore = nā reira Ōtautahi (n) Christchurch
noa (p) used in different ways as an Ōtepoti (n) Dunedin
intensifier with verbs and or nouns oti (st.v) be finished, be completed
Nō mua noa atu
A very long time ago P.
noa iho – only
Noema (n) November pā 1. (n) e pā – term of address for father, 2.
noho (-ia) (v) sit (n) a fortified village, 3. pā (ngia) (v) to touch
noho puku (v) sit quietly, go without food or feel
nohoanga (n) lounge, sitting room Paenga – whāwhā (n) April
nohoanga roa (n) sofa paepae (n) the seat where formal
noke (n) worm speechmakers sit during a ceremony
nono (n) bum, backside pāhau (n) beard
nui (a) big, huge, enormous, important pahikete kākahu (n) clothes basket
nuinga (n) the majority, most of pahi (n) bus
nunui (a) big, huge, enormous pāhi 1. (v) past, 2. (n) purse
nūpepa (n) newspaper pahikitepāoro (n) basketball
pai (a) good, fine, suitable, appropriate
O. paihamu (n) possum
paihau (n) - beard
ō (pron) your (one owner, more than one paihikara (n) bicycle, bike
possession) pai marika - for sure
o (p) of, belonging to paināporo (n) pineapple
Anei te whare o Mere paipera (n) bible
Here is Mere’s house pākatio (n) freezer
oho (v) be awake ; used with e as a command pakari (a) strong

pakaru (st.v) broken pāta putiputi (n) flower pot
Pākehā (n) a person of European descent pātai (-hia) 1. (v) question 2. (n) a question 19
pakeke (n) adult pātere (n) a traditional chant generally
pakeketanga (n) age, adulthood mentioning place names or tribal areas
pākete (n) packet, bucket pāti (n) party
pakihiwi (n) shoulder = pokohiwi patu (v) hit
pakipaki (v) clap pau (st.v) consumed, all gone
pakitara (n) wall Kua pau tāku hau
pakupaku (a) small, tiny My wind is gone = I’m exhausted
pāmu (n) - farm pāua (n) abalone
Pāmutana (n) Palmerston North paukena (n) pumpkin
panana (n) banana paura horoi kākahu (n) washing powder
pane (n) head paura parāoa (n) flour
panekoti (n) skirt, petticoat paura whakapaipai (n) makeup powder
pango (a) black, dark pea 1. (p) perhaps, maybe, 2. (n) bear
pani (-a) (v) rub in, smear over, spread pēhea 1 (question word) how, 2. in what way
pani niho – toothpaste = pē’ea = pēwhea
pānui 1. (n) newsletter, memo, pehu (v) popped, explode
advertisement, 2. pānui (-tia) (v) to read peita (-hia) 1. (v) to paint, 2. (n) paint
paoka (n) fork pēke (n) bag
paopao (v) beat, strike peke (v) jump
paopao kupu (v) to type words, typing pēnā (a) like that, close to listener
pāpā (n) father, uncle pene (n) pen
papa (n) floor, ground, flat area penehīni (n) petrol, benzene, gasoline
pāparakāuta (n) tavern, pub pēnei (a) like this, close to speaker
papa retireti (n) skateboard pepa 1. (n) paper, 2. pepper
papa tapahi (n) chopping board pepeha (n) a proverbial saying referring to
papaki (-tia)(v) - to slap, spank, smack, strike the region or locality
together pēpi (n) baby
pāpaku (a) shallow Pepuere (n) February
pāpāringa (n) cheek pērā (a) like that, in that way
papata (n) cockroach Kaua e kōrero pērā
paraihe niho (n) toothbrush Don’t talk like that
paraikete (n) blanket pera (n) pillow
Paraire (n) Friday pereti (n) plate
parakuihi (n) breakfast pī (n)bee
parāoa (n) bread pihareinga (n) a cricket
paraone (a) brown pihikete (n) biscuit
parauri (a) brown piki (v) climb, go up, ascend
pare (n) lintel, carved slab over the door of a piki mai – climb on board, climb up (towards
house/wharenui speaker)
paru (a) dirty pikitia (n) picture
paruparu (a) dirty pīnati (n) peanut
pata (n) butter Pīpiri (n) June

pīpīwharauroa (n) shining cuckoo pou-tokomanawa (n) centre pillar, the
20 pīrangi (-tia) (v) want, desire post in the middle of a wharenui
pirihimana (n) policeman pou-tuarongo (n) the post at the rear of the
Pīrimia (n) Prime Minister wharenui
pīwaiwaka (n) fan-tail Poutū-te-rangi (n) March
pō (n) night, dark pū 1. (n) gun, 2. origin
pōhiri (n) welcoming ceremony - pōwhiri pūhuruhuru (a) hairy
(dialectual) puihi (n) bush, in the wild
pō-maruroa – Winter & Summer Solstices pukapuka (n) book
pō mārie – good night pukana (v) - to stare wildly
poaka (n) pig pukapuka waea (n) phone book
poaka kunekune (n) pig puke (n) - hill
pōhēhē (st.v) think mistakenly pūkoro (n) pocket
poho (n) breast, bosom, chest puku (n) stomach, abdomen
poi (n) a small swinging ball pukumahi (a) hard working
pōkarekare (n) disturbed waters, ripple (of pukuriri (a) angry
the water) pūmanawa (n) ability, skill, natural talent
pona (n) knee or elbow pune (n) spoon
Pōneke (n) Wellington pune–iti (n) teaspoon
pono (a) true, 2. (n) truth pūngawerewere (n) spider
pōpokoriki (n) ant pūrakau (n) stories
popoto (a) short pūrerehua (n) butterfly
pōro (n) ball pūru (n) bull
poro (v) cut off, finish puruhi (n) flea
Poroaki (-tia) (v) farewell purei (v) play
poroporoaki (-tia) (v) farewell 2. (n) a farewell purei whutupāoro (v) to play football
porowhā (n) rectangle purini (n) pudding
porowhita (n) circle puta (n) opening, hole
pōtae (n) hat 2. (v) come forth, appear
pōtiki (a) - youngest puta noa – right throughout

poto (a) short pūtake (n) 1. Base, root, 2. reason, cause
pōturi (a) slow pūtake haerenga - the purpose of a trip,
reason for travel
pou (n) a post, pole
pouaka (n) - box pūtu (n) boots
pou haki (n) flag pole putu (v) lie in a heap
pouaka makariri (n) fridge
pouaka whakaata (n) television
R.
poumua (n) front post
rā 1. (n) the sun, 2. day
pounamu (n) greenstone
rā whānau (n) birthday
poupou (n) carved panels
rā whakatā (n) - weekend
poupoutanga o te rā – midday
Rāapa (n) Wednesday
pōuri 1. (n) dark, of the night, 2. (a) sad,
rae (n) forehead
depressed
Rāhina (n) Monday
poutāpeta (n) post office
Rāhoroi (n) Saturday

raihana (n) licence raweke (v) tamper with, interfere with
raiona (n) lion rea, pihi (n) shoot of a plant 21
raiti (n) light rehukoko (n) saxophone
rākau (n) a tree, wood, stick, tool or weapon reira (n) that place, there
rākau ūkui (n) mop reka (a) sweet, delicious
rakiraki (n) duck rekereke (n) heel
Rakiura (n) Stewart Island rēmana (n) lemon
rakuraku (n) guitar reme (n) lamb
rama (n) light, lamp remereme (n) lamb
Rāmere (n) Friday reo 1. (n) language, 2. voice
rānei – or , whatever reo pōhiri – verbal welcome
rangatahi (n) youth, teenager reo rotarota – sign language
rangatira (n) chief rere (-a) (v) fly, flow
rangi (n) day, sky, heaven reri - to be ready
Rangi – Sky Father rerenga 1. (n) sentence, 2. flight
rango (n) blowfly retireti (v) to ski
raparapa (n) the end part of the maihi, riki (n) onion
representing the fingers of the whare tūpuna rīki (n) - rugby league
Rāpare (n) Thursday rima (num) five
rāpeti (n) rabbit rima tekau (num) fifty
rapu (a, hia) (v) - to seek, look for, search ringa (n) hand, arm
rara (n) rib ringaringa (n) hands
raro 1. below, down, downwards, underneath ringa wera (n) refers to people who prepare
2. north and cook food, kitchen hands
raruraru (v) to be in or have trouble, be in rīpene whakaata – video cassette
difficulty rito (n) centre shoot of flax
rata (a) friendly towards, like rīwai (n) potato (n) praying mantis
rātaka (n) date roa (a) long, lengthy, tall
Rātapu (n) Sunday rohe (n) district, region
rātou (pron) they, them (more than two rongo 1. (v) to feel, to smell, to hear, to taste,
people – excluding the speaker and listener)= 2. (n) peace
rātau Rongo – god of peace, used to refer to the
rātou ko – and (used to join two personal peaceful domain within the meeting house
names) as opposed to the domain of Tūmatauenga,
raumati (n) summer outside, on the marae ātea
raupā (a) calloused Rongomaraeroa – god of peace
rawa 1. (p) intensifier – quite, very,very much, Rongomātāne – god of cultivated food
really, too rongonui (a) famous, well known
He wera rawa tēnei pāreti rōpere (n) strawberry
This porridge is too hot rōpū (n) group
2. (n) goods, property, wealth, rōpū whakaeke (n) oncoming group/
chattels,resource,asset visitors to the marae
rawakore (a) poor, without property rori (n) road
rawe (a) lovely, excellent rorirori (a) foolish, stupid, clumsy

roroa (a) long tākuta (n) doctor
22 rorohiko (n) computer tama (n) son, boy
roto (n) 1 in, the inside, 2. a lake tamaiti (n) child
rourou (n) a food basket tamariki (n) children
rua 1. (num) two, 2. both, 3. (n) a ditch, a pit taumata rau (n) many high peaks
or a hole Tamanuiterā – personification of the sun
rua hāngī (n) earth oven pit tāna (pron) his/her (one owner, one
rua tekau (num) twenty possession)
rua tekau mā tahi (num) twenty one tāne (n) man, male
rua tekau mā rima (num) twenty five tangata (n) person
ruahine (n) an old woman tāngata (n) people
rūhā (a) ragged, worn out tangata rongonui – famous people
rūma (n) room tangata whenua – host people, people
rūma horoi - wash room of the land
rūma horoi kākahu - laundry tangi 1. (v) cry or mourn, 2. (n) a sound
rūma horoi tinana -bathroom Whakarongo ki te tangi a te manu
rūma moe - bedroom Listen to the cry of the bird
rūma noho – sitting room, lounge tangihanga (n) funeral
rūma tākaro – play room taokete (n) sister in law ( of a female ),
runga (a) up, above, top, the upper part brother in law (of a male )
rūrū (v) shake hands tāone (n) town
ruru (n) owl, morepork taonga (n) a treasured possession
tapu (a) a state of being sacred, protected,
T. restricted
tara (n) 1. side of a house, 2. female genitals
tā – term of address, Sir, knight tāra (n) dollar
tae (n) - colour taraka (n) - truck, lorry
taha (n) beside, side tarakihana (n) tractor
tahi (num) one taringa (n) ear
taha matau - right side tātahi (n) beach
taha maui - left side tatau (n) door
tahu (-a) (v) to burn, to set on fire tātou (pron) us, we (more than three people –
tāhuhu (n) ridge (or house) including speaker) = tātau
taiapa/taiepa (n) (v) (tia) - to fence off (v), tatū (v) settle, arrive
wall, fence (n) tau (-ria) 1 (n) year, 2. (v) settle, 3. (n)
taihoa (v) - wait sweetheart
tāima (n) time tāu (pron) your (one owner, one possession)
tākaro (v) to play sports or leisure activities =tāhau (East)
takitahi (a) as an individual, alone tau ana – primo, choice, awesome, neat
takitini (a) in crowds tau hou (n) - Māori New Year, stranger
takoto (-ria) (v) lie down tau ke! - wicked! choice!
taku (pron) my/mine (one owner, one taua (p) that (one thing) which as mentioned
possession) before
takurua (n) winter tāua (pron) you and I , we, us (two people –

including speaker) throughout New Zealand
taua āhua rā anō – same old, same old te whānau (n) the family 23
taumata (n) peak, summit tēhea (question word) which
tauparapara (n) an incantation Ko tēhea? Which is…?
taunga waka rererangi – 1. (n) airfield, Kei tēhea? Which …. Is it at?
airport, airstrip, aerodrome. I tēhea? Which…. was it at?
taura (n) rope, cable, cord Nō tēhea? From which?
Tauranga 1. (n) resting place, anchorage, teina 1. (n) younger sibling of the same sex
fishing ground, place to land, mooring, tēina 1 (n) younger siblings of the same sex
landing pad, terminal. teitei (a) high, tall not in reference to height of
tautohetohe (-tia) (v) debate, quarrel people
tautoko (-na) (v) support tekau (num) ten
tauwera (n) towel tekau mā rima mano tāra (num) fifteen
tāwāhi (location) overseas thousand dollars
tāwauwau – 1. (location) unspecified distant tekau mā tahi (num) eleven
place. tekoteko (n) carved figure on the apex of a
As in the expression, ‘ki tua o tāwauwau’ meeting house
denoting some place in the middle of nowhere tēnā (p) that (singular) close to the person
tawhito (a) ancient, old, aged, historic being addressed
te (p) the (singular) tēnā koa – excuse me
te ao (n) the world tēnā koa homai – give it here please
te ao Māori – the Māori world, Māoridom tēnā koe – 1. Greetings to you, 2. thank you
te ara pū (n) the alphabet tēnā koutou 1. greetings to you (more than
te ara reo Māori (n) the Māori language two people), 2. thank you (more than two
pathway people)
te marae (n) the village, Māori community tēnā koutou katoa 1. greetings to you all, 2.
focal point, meeting place thank you all
Te Papaiōea (n) Palmerston North tēnā tātou 1. greetings to us (more than two
tētahi – one...the other people, speaker included), 2. thanks to us
Te Tai Hau-ā-uru (n) West coast (of the (more than two people, speaker included)
North Island) tēna tātou katoa 1. greetings to us all
te taima – the time (speaker included), 2. thanks to all of us
Te Taipoutini (n) West coast (of the South (speaker included)
Island) tēnei (p) this (close to speaker)
Te Tai Rāwhiti (n) the East coast tēpu (n) table
Te Tai Tokerau (n) Northland tērā (p) that (away from both speaker and
Te Tai Tonga (n) Southland listener)
te tangata (n) the individual person tere (-a) 1. (a) fast, quick, speedy, 2. (v) sail,
te tatau mea – counting things float
te tau Māori (n) the Māori Calendar year tereina (n) train
Te Tonga o Āwherika – (n) South Africa tētahi 1. (p) one, a
te wā (n) the time Homai tētahi pānana
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa – a pan-tribal Pass me a banana,
Māori tertiary institution with campuses 2. another – when used with atu

Homai tētahi atu pānana tokomaha – a lot of people
24 Pass me another banana tokotoru – three people
tī hāte (n) - t-shirt tokowhia/tokohia (question word – how
tihe (v)sneeze many people?
tīhi (n) cheese tōku (pron) my, mine (one owner, one
tika (a) correct, fair, straight, right possession)
tikanga (n) custom, protocol, correct practice toru (num) three
tiki (tīkina) (v) fetch tōtika (a) straight through, straight, correct
tiki kai – fetch food right
tīkiti (n) ticket tōu (pron) yours, belongiong to you (one
tīkiti pahi (n) bus ticket owner, one possession) =tōhou (East)
tikitiki (n) topknot tū (v) stand
tima (n) - team tua 1. (prefix) used with numbers from 1-9
tīmata (-ria) (v) start, begin, commence for first and ninth and tuangahuru for tenth, 2.
tina (n) - lunch, dinner beyond
tinana (n) body Haere ki tua o tērā puke
tini (a) many, innumerable Go beyond that hill
tīni (-hia) (v) to change tuahine (n) sister – commonly used by a
tīni kākahu (v) change clothing male when addressing female siblings or close
tino (p) very; in most cases tino is used as an female relative of the same gender
intensifier if verbs or nouns tuāhine(n) sisters – commonly used by a
tino pai – very good male when addressing female siblings or close
tino rawe – extremely excellent female relative of the same gender
tino toa – particularly talented tuaiwa (num) ninth
tino tohunga – expert tuakana (n) older sibling, generally of the
tipu (-ria) (v) grow, spurt upwards same sex i.e older brother of a male, older
tira (n) group sister of a female
tuākana (n) older siblings, generally of the
tirotiro (v) look about same sex i.e older brother of a male, older
tirotiro haere (v) looking around, sister of a female, older same sex relatives
sightseeing tuanui (n) roof
titiro (tirohia) (v) look Tū – ā – nuku – abbreviation of Papa-tū-
tīwī (n) - television ā-nuku, Mother Earth
tō (pron) your (one owner; one possession) tuara (n) backbone
toa (n) 1. shop or store, 2. champion tuarua (num) second
toa hoko kai – supermarket tuatahi (num) first
tohunga (n) an expert tuhituhi (-a) (v) write
tohutohu (-ngia) (v) instruct, command tuku (-na) (v) 1. let go, give up, 2. allow, let, 3.
toko 1. (prefix) used before the numbers 2-9 send
to count people, 2. used before iti and maha tūmanako (v) hope, wish
to refer to a generally small or large amount of Tūmatauenga (n) god of warfare
people tungāne - 1. (n) brother or male cousin (of a
tokohia - how many? ( people ) female).
tokoiti – a few people tunu(-a) (v) to cook, bake or roast

tunu keke – bake a cake wāhanga (n) piece, part of something,
tuohu (v) bow down, stoop section 25
tupuna (n) ancestor, grandparent = tipuna wāhi (n) a place or location, realm
tūpuna (n) ancestors, grandparents = tīpuna wāhi hararei (n) holiday place
Tūrei (n) Tuesday wāhi noho (n) address
turi 1. (n) knee, 2. (a) deaf wahine (n) woman, female
turu (n) chair wāhine (n) women
tūruhi (n) tourist wai (question word) who
tūtaki (-na) (v) meet Ko wai? Who is…?
tūtaki whanaunga – meet relations Kei a wai? Who has? (something in their
tutuki (st.v) completed, accomplished possession)
tūtuki (v) crash I a wai? Who had? (something in their
tūwiri (v) to tremble, be afraid possession)
Nā/Nō wai? Whose is (it)?
U. waho (n) out, the outside
waiata 1. (n) song, 2. waiata (-tia) (v) sing
ūkaipō (n) mother, nurturing place waiata tautoko – song of support
uma (n) chest, boson, breast waiho (-tia) 1. (v) leave
umanga (n) occupation, profession I waiho ahau I tōku motokā i te kainga
umere (v) shout, yell I left my car at home, 2. let be
upoko (n) head Waihotia tō teina
upoko mārō – stubborn - headed Leave your younger brother alone
upoko pakaru – broken head Waihōpai (n) Invercargill
ure (n) male genitals, penis wairua (n) spirit
Ūropi (n) Europe waka (n) 1 canoe, 2. car or vehicle
urupā (n) graveyard, burial ground waka – rererangi (n) aircraft
uta (n) ashore waka-roa (n) limousine
utu ( n) price, cost waka-topatopa (n) helicopter
wāku (pron) my/mine (one owner, more than
W. one possession) = āku
wareware (v) forget, (a) forgotten
wā (n) time waru 1. (num) eight, 2. (v) scrape, or peel
wā heke – future time wāwā (n) an undefined locality
wā kāinga – home wawe - be early, quickly
wā moe – bed time, sleep time wawata(-hia) 1. (v) dream, 2. (n) yearning, goal
wā mua – past time wehi (v) be afraid, scared
waea 1. (n) phone, 2. (v) to call wera (a) hot, heated, burnt
waea nama (n) telephone number wero (v) 1. To challenge 2 pierce
waea pūkoro (n) cellphone whā (num) four
waere 1. (v) (-a) to clear (by cutting down whae’ (n) mother, aunt or respectable
wood, etc.), 2. (n) karakia clearing the tapu of address for an older woman, shortened form of
the building. whaea
waewae (n) leg or foot whaea kēkē (n) - aunty
waenganui (n) - between, middle whai (whāia) (v) follow, seek out

whaiāipo (n) sweetheart, darling, lover whare kai (n) restaurant, eating house
26 whaikōrero (v) formal speech making whare karakia (n) church
Whāingaroa (n) Raglan whare mate (n) a house where a body and
whāiti (a) narrow and compact coffin lie at a funeral
whakaahua (n) photos whare miraka (n) - milking shed
whakaaro (v) (-a, -hia, -tia )- to think, plan, whare moe (n) sleeping quarters,
consider (n) thought, opinion dormitories
whakaaro nui – repect, thoughtful whare nui (n) meetinghouse
whakaeke (-a) (v) advance on ,walk on, whare pukapuka (n) library
ascend whare puni (n) meeting house
whakakā (v) (hia, ngia, tia) - cause to burn, whare tupuna (n) ancestral meeting house
light, turn on, (n) lighter, match = whare tipuna
whakakī (v) fill wharepaku (n) toilets
whakamiraka kau (v) - to milk cows whāriki 1. (n) floor mat, 2. (v) lay out to cover
whakapai (-ngia, -tia) 1. (v) improve, make the ground
good, 2. set inorder whatianga (n) elbow
whakapapa (n) genealogy whatu 1. (n) eye, 2. (v) to weave
whakaraparapa (v) to glance from side to Whāwhā (-hia) (v) touch, feel
side, browse whea (question word) where = hea= w’ea
whakarite (v) (-a, hia) - to arrange, adjust, whenua (n) - land
prepare whero 1. (a) red, 2. (n) backside, bum
whakarongo (v) listen = w’akarongo, = whia (question word) how many?=hia=w’ia
whakaroko E hia? How many?
whakatakoto (-ria) (v) lay down Kia hia? How many would you like?
whakatakotoranga (n) pattern, layout Tokohia? How many people?
whakataukī (n) proverbial saying whitu (num) seven
whakatere (-a) (v) accelerate, to increase whutupāoro (n) football
speed wiki (n) week
whakatika (-hia) (v) make correct, make wīwī (n) an undefinied locality
right Haere ki wīwī ki wāwā
whakato (v) - to plant Go hither and thither
whakautu (v) (-a, ngia) - to reply, answer, Wōku (pron) my/mine (one owner, more than
respond one possession) = ōku = ngōku
whakawātea (-hia) (v) to make clear, release
from attachments, free from obstacles
whakaweto (v) (-a, hia, ngia) - to
extinguish, pull out, turn off
whana (-ia) (v) to kick
whanaunga (n) relative
whanaungatanga (n)relatedness
whāngai (-hia) (v) to foster, nurture, to feed
whānui (a) broad, wide
wharau (n) a temporary shelter
whare (n) house, building

English – Māori ancestors tīpuna, (tūpuna is dialectal)
ancestral meeting house wharenui 27
A. ancient tawhito
and me, rāua ko, ā
a famous person – tētahi tangata rongonui and then kātahi ka
a he, tētahi angry pukuriri, riri
ability pūmanawa animal kararehe
about mō, e pā ana ki ….. ankle rekereke
accelerate whakatere another tētahi atu anō
Accelerated Learning ako whakatere answer whakautu
action mahi ant pokorua, pōpokoriki
add tāpiri, āpiti appearance āhua
address wāhi noho apple āporo
adjectives kupu āhua application tono
admire mīharo appropriate attire ngā kākahu tika
adult pakeke appropriate tika
adulthood pakeketanga April Āperira, Paenga-whāwhā
advance on whakaeke argue tautohe
advertisement pānui arm pit kēkē
aeroplane waka –rere-rangi arm ringa
afraid mataku, wehi arrive tae
Africa Āwherika arrogance whakahīhī
afternoon ahiahi as if anō nei, me he
again anō ascend piki, whakaeke
age kaumātuatanga, pakeketanga, tau ashamed whakamā
aircraft waka rererangi ashore uta
albatross toroa Asia Āhia
alertness mataara Asian food kai Āhia
alive ora ask pātai
all around puta noa, huri noa aspects āhuatanga
All Blacks Ōpango aspiration moemoeā, wawata
all gone pau assist āwhina
all katoa assistant kaiāwhina
allow tuku (na) attributes ngā pūmanawa
alphabet te ara pū Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau, Ākarana
also hoki aunty whaea kēkē
although ahakoa Australia Ahitereiria
altogether katoa autumn ngahuru
amen āmine awake oho
America Amerika awareness māramatanga
amount of people te tokomaha o ngā away atu
tāngata
amount of things te maha o ngā mea
ancestor tipuna, (tupuna is dialectal)

B. belonging to her/ him nāna, nōna
28 belonging to them (two) nā/nō rāua
back 1. tuarā, 2. (place) muri belonging to us two nā/nō tāua
backbone tuarā belonging to us two, not listener nā/nō
backside nono, whero, tou māua
bad kino belonging to you nāu, nōu
bake a cake tunu keke belonging to you two nā/nō kōrua
bake tunu(-a) belonging to you (more than two) nā/nō
baking powder pēkene paura koutou
banana panana below/down raro
bank pēke benzene penehīni
bark kiri, pāpākiri bereaved pani
base pūtake bereaved family whānau pani
basketball pahikitepāoro, poitūkohu berries hua
bath tub tāpu kaukau beside i te taha, taha
bathe horoi bible paipera
bathroom rūma horoi tinana bicycle paihikara
Bay of Islands Pēwhairangi big nui
Bay of Plenty Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi big hearted ngākau nui
Bay whanga billion piriona
be finished mutu, oti bird manu
be mistaken pōhēhē birthday rā whānau, huritau
be quiet turituri biscuit pihikete
beak ngutu black pango, mangu
bear pea blanket paraikete
beard pāhau blender mīhini kōrori
beat paopao, patu blue kikorangi, purū, kahurangi
beautiful ātaahua Bluff Motupōhue
because nā te mea, nō te mea body tinana
because of nā, nō boil koropupū
bed moenga boil up kai kōhua
bed time wā moe bones kōiwi
bedroom rūma moe book pukapuka
bee pī boots pūtu
beef kiko kau, mīti kau bosom uma, poho
Beehive Whare Pāremata both ngā mea e rua, rāua tahi (for people)
beetroot tāmore whero bow down tuaohu
before mua bowl oko
begin tīmata boy tama
behind muri branch peka
belief whakapono brave manawanui, māia
believe whakapono bread parāoa
bellbird korimako breakfast parakuihi
belonging to all of us nā/nō tātou katoa breast poho, ū, uma

bright muramura, mārama carved gable of a whare maihi
bring hari mai carved panels poupou 29
bring mau(-ria),kawe (-a), hari(-a) carved upright posts, at front of
broad whānui meeting house amo
broadcaster kaiwhakapāoho cat ngeru
brown parauri, Paraone caterpillar anuhe
bubble koropupū, mirumiru caught mau
bucket pākete cauliflower pūputi
bull pūru caution tūpato
build hanga cave ana
bumblebee pī rorohū celebrities tāngata rongonui
Burger King Kīngi Pāka cellphone waea pūkoro
burnt wera cent hēneti
bus depot tauranga pahi centre pillar pu –tokomanawa
bus ticket tīkiti pahi century rau tau
but engari chair tūru, nohoanga
butter pata champion toa
butterfly pūrerehua change clothes tīni kākahu
buttocks tou, whero, kōtore character āhua
buy hoko(-na) cheek 1. (n) pāpāringa 2. (v) whakatoi
by foot mā raro cheer ūmere
by riding on mā runga cheese tīhi
bye (to one staying) e noho rā, (to one going) chest uma, poho
haere rā chewing gum pia ngaungau
chicken heihei
C. chicks pīpī
chief ariki
cabbage kāpeti children tamariki
cake keke chilly māeke, makariri
calendar maramataka chin kauae
calf kūao Chinese food kai Hainamana
call karanga chippies ngā maramara rīwai
caller kai karanga chocolate tiakarete
callous raupā choice (expression) pai, ka mau te wehi
calm marino,mauritau choice whiringa
canoe waka chopping board papa tapahi
car motokā, waka Christchurch Ōtautahi
caravan waka – moe Christmas Kirihimete
care for taurima, tiaki, atawhai church whare karakia
carrot kāroti cicada kihikihi
carry mau(-ria), hari(-a), kawe(-a) circle porowhita, porotaka
carve whakairo clap pakipaki
carved figure on apex of meeting clean 1. (st.v) mā 2. (v) whakapaipai, horoi
house tekoteko clever koi te hinengaro, mātau, ihumanea,

mōhio correct 1. (n) tika, 2.(v) whakatika
30 climb piki cost utu
clock karaka cot moenga pēpi
close (distance) tata count tatau
close shut kati(-a) cousin whanaunga, karangarua, kaihana
closest tūtata cover uhi(-a), uwhi(-a)
closing prayer karakia whakamutunga cow kau
closing whakakapi crab pāpaka
clothes basket pahikete kākahu crash tūtuki
clothes kākahu crater rua, kororua
cloud kapua crawl ngōki
club karapu crayfish kōura
coat koti Creator Ihoa, Ihowa, Io,Kaihanga
cockle tuangi, pipi creator kaihanga
cockroach papata cricket 1. Pihareinga (insect), 2. kirikiti
coconut kokonati (sport)
code (of ethics) tikanga cross 1. (st.v) whakatakariri, 2.(v)whakawhiti,
coffee kawhe 3. (n) rīpeka
coffee machine mīhini kawhe crowds takitini, ope, te tini me te mano,
coke inu reka mātoru
cold kōpeke, mātao cry tangi
colour tae, kara cucumber kūkama
comb heru cultural aspects ngā tikanga
combinations pahekotanga cultural tikanga
command tohutohu cup ipu, kapu
commenting kōrero, whakataki cupboard kāpata
compact whāiti curtain ārai
complete 1. (st.v) oti, tutuki, 2. (v) whakaoti, customs tikanga
whakatutuki cut tapahi (-a)
compliment mihi cut up tapatapahi
computer rorohiko CV rārangi pūkenga
conclusion whakakapi, kōrero
whakamutunga, whakatepe D.
conger eel kōiro
connection hononga daddy-long-legs pekepekeharatu
consonants ngā orokati daffodil tirara
consume kai, whakapau daisy parani
context horopaki dance kanikani
courtyard marae atea dark pōuri
Cook Strait Raukawa Moana dark skin kirimangu, kiri waitutu
cook tunu darling whaiāipo, te tau o te ate, tāringi
cool mātaotao daughter tamāhine
cordial wai reka daughter–in-law hunaonga
corn kānga day after tomorrow ātahirā

day rā, rangi drawer toroā
days of the week Ngā rā o te wiki dream holiday tino hararei 31
dead mate dream moemoeā, wawata
deaf turi dress kaka
debate tautohetohe drink inu
December Tīhema, Hakihea drink inu(-mia)
deep hōhonu drinking water wai māori
deep love maioha, aroha nui drop whakataka
deer tia drum pahū
dehydrated matewai, mateinu dry maroke
delicious reka, pārekareka dryer mīhini whakamaroke kākahu
deodorant/perfume whakakakara duck pārera, rakiraki
descend heke Dunedin Ōtepoti
describe whakamārama i te āhua
desire manako(-hia), wawata(-hia), E.
tūmanako(-hia), minaka
destroy whakahotu, monimoni, miti each ia
dew tōmairangi ear taringa
dialect reo-ā-iwi earth oven pit rua hāngi
dialectal differences ngā rerekētanga, reo East Coast Te Tai Rāwhiti
-ā-iwi east rāwhiti
dictionary puna kupu, papa kupu, tikinare eating house whare kai
difference rerekē, rerekētanga editor kaiwhakatika
dig up keri(-a) egg burger pāka hēki
dinosaur moko tuauri eight hundred waru rau
dirty paru, paruparu eight waru
discuss kōrerorero, whakawhiti kōrero eighteen tekau mā waru
distant mamao, pāmamao, tawhiti eighth tuawaru
distinguished guests manuhiri tūārangi eighty waru tekau
district names ngā ingoa wāhi elbow/wrist whatīanga
district rohe, takiwā, wāhi elderly man koro, koroua
do not kaua elderly person kaumātua
doctor tākuta, rata elderly woman kuia
dog kurī elephant arewhana
dollar tāra eleven tekau mā tahi
dolphin aihe embarrassed whakamā
domain rohe, takiwā embrace awhi, kauawhiawhi
don’t be like that kaua e perā end 1.(n) whakamutunga, 2. (v) whaka mutu
don’t kaua (-a)
donkey kāihe engineer kaiwhakatika mīhini
door kūaha, tatau England Ingarangi
dove kūkupa enter kuhu, uru, tomo
down raro, iho entertain whakangahau
dragonfly kapokapowai entertainer kaiwhakangahau

establish whakatū (-ria), tū father-in-law hungawai, hungarei
32 etiquette tikanga feather huruhuru, raukura
Europe Ūropi February Pepuere, Hui-tānguru
evening ahipō, pō fed-up hōhā
events ngā mahi feed whāngai (-tia)
everlasting life oranga tonutanga feel rongo, whāwhā, pā
every ia female genitals tara, puta
everywhere ngā wāhi katoa fermented corn kānga piro, kānga pirau,
evil kino kānga wai
examples ngā tauira fermented puha and mussels toroī
excellent pai, rawe, kei runga noa atu fetch food tiki kai
exchange thoughts whakawhiti whakaaro fetch tiki(-na)
exchange whakawhiti few, numbers ruarua, torutoru
exchange words whakawhiti kōrero few, of people tokoiti, ruarua, torutoru
excuse me tēnā koa fifteen tekau mā rima
exercise korikori tinana fifth tuarima
exhausted ngenge, kua pau te hau fifty rima tekau
experience wheako fight whawhai
expert tino tohunga fill whakakī
explain whakamārama fill in whakakī
extraordinary autaia find work rapu mahi
extremely excellent tino rawe finding out rapuhia, rangahau, rangahaua
eye whatu, karu, kanohi fine kei te pai
eyeball kamo fine, weather paki, paki o Rangi, paruhi
eyebrow tukemata finger matimati
finger nail maikuku
F. finish whakamutu, whakaoti
fire ahi
face kanohi, mata first tuatahi
fair skin kiritea fish and chips ika me ngā maramara rīwai
falcon kārearea fish burger pāka ika
family reunion hui – ā – whānau fish ika
family whānau fish up huhuti(-a), hī
famous people tāngta rongonui five hundred rima rau
famous rongonui five rima
fan kōwhiuwhiu flag pole pou haki
fantail pīwaiwaka, pīwakawaka, tīraiaka flamingo waekura
farewell (to one going)haere rā, hei konei rā, flax harakeke
hei konā (to one staying) e noho rā flea puruhi
farewells ngā poroporoaki flexibility ngāwari
farther side kō atu float tere, mānu, rewa
fast tere, kamakama, horo floor mats whāriki
fat mōmona floor papa
father pā,matua, pāpā flounder pātiki

flour parāoa freshwater mussel kākahi
flower pot pāta putiputi fridge pouaka makariri 33
flute kōauau fried chicken heihei parai
fly ngaro, rango friend hoa
fly rere friendly rata, whakahoahoa
food basket rourou frog pepeke, poraka
food kai from mai i, nā, nō
food mall toa hoko kai from where nō hea
foot waewae frond pikopiko
for all of us mā/mō tātou katoa front mua
for all of us (not listener) mā/mō mātou front of person aroaro
katoa front post pou-mua
for her/him māna, mōna frost huka, hukapapa, hauhunga,
for mā,mō fruit hua rākau, hua
for them (more than two fry-bread parāoa parai
mā/mō rātou fun activity mahi ngahau
for them (two) mā/mō rāua function āheinga
for us (more than two, not listener) funeral tangihanga
mā/mō mātou furniture taputapu mō te whare
for us two (not listener) mā/mō māua future holidays hararei-wā-heke
for us two mā/mō tāua future time wā heke
for you (more than two) mā/mō koutou future travel haerenga –wā-heke
for you all (more than two) mā/mō
koutou katoa G.
for you māu,mōu, māhau, mōhou
for you two mā/mō kōrua game kēmu
forehead rae garden māra
forest ngahere, wao gasoline penehīni
forget wareware gather huihui (-a), whakaemi (-hia),
fork paoka whakarauika (-tia)
formal speech giving whaikōrero gathering huihuinga
formally ōkawa genealogy whakapapa
fortified place pā generous marae, ohaoha
forty whā tekau gentle mārie, ngāwari, maiangi (of wind)
foster atawhai, whāngai gift koha
foundation pūtake giraffe kakī roa
four hundred whā rau girl hine, kōtiro
four whā Gisborne Tūranga – nui – a Kiwa
fourteen tekau mā whā give it (away) hoatu
fourth tuawhā give it (here) homai
Foveaux Strait Te Ara a Kiwa give it here please tēnā koa homai
free wātea, kore-utu give thanks whakawhetai
freezer paka tio give up tuku (-na)
freshwater crayfish kewai give whakatakoto, hoatu, tuku(-na) tākoha

giving instructions tohutohu (-a) great – grandchild/ren mokopuna tuarua
34 glass karaihe great –great-grandchild/ren mokopuna
glasses mōhiti (for eyes) tuatoru
glory kororia green kākāriki, pounamu, moata
gloves karapu greenstone pounamu
go haere greeting mihi
go into kuhu, tomo, hou greeting people mihi ki te tangata
go out of puta atu greeting to the two of you tēnā kōrua
go up piki greeting to us all tēnā tātou katoa
goat koti, nanekoti greeting to us tēnā tātou
god atua greeting to you (three or more) tēnā
god of cultivated food Rongo-mā-tāne koutou
god of earthquakes and volcanoes greetings to you tēnā koe
Rūaumoko grey mōhinahina, hina, mā pango, kiwikiwi
god of the forest Tāne-mahuta Greymouth Māwhera
god of the sea Tangaroa groper hāpuku
god of uncultivated food Haumie – ground oven rua hāngi
tiketike ground papa
god of warfare and man Tūmatauenga group rōpū, ope, tira
god of wind, clouds and storm groups of people ngā rōpū tāngata
Tāwhirimātea guardian kaiārahi, kaitiaki
goddess of fire Mahuika guide ārahi
goddess of summer Hine-raumati guidelines kupu ārahi
goddess of winter Hine-takurua guitar rakuraku, whakatangitangi
going kei te haere, e haere ana gumboot kamupūtu
gold koura gun pū
gone kua ngaro
good looking ātaahua, pūrotu, tau ana te H.
āhua
good morning mōrena, āta marie hair, of the body huruhuru
good night pō mārie hair, of the head makawe
good pai hairy pūhuruhuru
goose kuihi half haurua, hāwhe
gorilla makinui half past hāpāhi, hāwhe pāhi
grace (prayer) karakia hamburger hamupāka
grandchild/ren mokopuna Hamilton Kirikiriroa
grandfather koro, koroua, pōua hand ringa
grandmother kuia, tāua handed down tuku iho
grant applications tono pūtea handshake harirū
grant pūtea āwhina happy hai, harikoa
grape juice wai karepe harbour whanga
grapefruit karepe whurutu, hīmoemoe hard mārō
grasshopper kōwhitiwhiti hard-case hātakēhi
graveyard urupā hard-working pukumahi

Harley Davidson Hāri Rāwirihana manaaki tangata
Hastings Heretaunga hot wera 35
hat pōtae hot tempered kiriweti
Hawaiian burger pāka Hawaiana hour hāora
hawk kāhu house whare
Hawkes Bay Te Matau ā Māui household objects ngā mea ā whare
he/she ia how (will you travel) mā hea
head ūpoko, māhunga how many e whia, e hia
headlice kutu how many people tokowhia, tokohia
headstrong ūpoko māro how pēhea = pēwhea
hear rongo humble māhaki
heart manawa, ngakau humid pārūrū, korire
heater mīhini whakamahana humility whakaiti
hedgehog hetiheti, tuatete hungry hiakai
heel rekereke husband hoa tāne
height roa, taumata, teitei
helicopter waka- topatopa I.
hello kia ora
help awhi, āwhina I ahau, au
her/him and I māua ice tio
here konei, anei idiomatic expression kīwaha
heron kōtuku (white), mātuku (blue) if me he, mehemea, mena
hide huna ignorant kūare
high teitei impatient kiriweti
him ia important whakahirahira, nui
him/her and I māua improve whakapai
hippopotamus hipohipo in groups of people – (takitahi, takirua)
hips hope in health ora
his tana, tāna, tōna in that way pērā, pēnā
historic tawhito in this way pēnei
hold mau, pupuri increase speed whakatere (-hia)
hole kohao, puta, roa Indian food kai Iniana
holiday destination ngā wāhi hararei individual takitahi, te tangata
holiday hararei informally ōpaki
holiday planning whakarite hararei insects ngāngara
holy tapu inside roto
home kāinga, wā kāinga instead of kē
hometown hau kāinga, kāinga tupu instructions tohutohu
honey mīere, ngongo instructor kaitohutohu
honour hōnore, whakahōnore intelligent koi te hinengaro
hope tūmanako interfere with raweke
horse hoiho introduce oneself whakawhanaunga atu
hospitable marae introduction kōrero tūtaki, mihimihi
host people 1. (n) tangata whenua 2. (v) Invercargill Waihopai

Iron haeana L.
36 Irritated hōhā
Is that right nē rā ladybird mumutawa
Island moutere, motu lamb reme, remereme
It seems as though te āhua nei, me te lament mōteatea
mea nei lamp rama
Italian food kai Itāriana lamprey tuna korokoro
Italy Itari land whenua
landed on tau mai
J. last night inapō
last week i tērā wiki
jam tiamu late tūreiti, tōmuri
January Hānuere, Kohitātea later on ākuanei
Japenese food kai Hapanihi laugh kata, katakata
jaw kauae layout whakatakotoranga
Jesus Christ Ihu Karaiti lazy māngere
journey haerenga leaf rau
joyful koa, hari learning akoako
July Hūrae, Hōngongoi learning outcomes ngā akoranga
jump peke leave wehe atu
June Hune, Pīpiri leave alone waiho (-tia)
just noa left mauī
left shoe hū mauī
K. leg waewae
leisure activities ngā mahi a te rēhia
kangaroo kangarū lemon rēmana
kettle tīkera lemonade waireka rēmana
kick whana lengthened whakaroa
kilogram kirokaramu let go tuku (-na)
kilometer kiromita lettuce retihi
kind ngākau māhaki, mākoha, atawhai level papa, taumata
kingfish haku library whare pukapuka
kiss kihi licence raihana
kitchen hand ringa wera lie down takoto (-ria)
kitchen kāuta, kīhini lie kōrero rūkahu
kitten punua poti, punua ngeru life essence mauri
knee pona, turi life oranga
knife naihi lift hiki (-tia)
know mōhio (tia), mātau (-ria) light green māota, karera
knowledge mātauranga light tūrama, rama,
Korean food kai Korea light (weight) kōmāmā
like rata
like that pērā, pēnā
like this pēnei

limousine waka roa meaning tikanga
lion raiona meat mīti 37
listen whakarongo mechanic kaiwhakatika motokā
lizard tuatara, moko meet tūtaki
location wāhi meeting house wharenui, wharepuni
lollipop rarepapa melon merengi
lolly rare memo pānui
London Rānana men tāne
lonely mokemoke microwave ngaru iti
long roa microwave oven umu tira
longest tino roa rawa atu midnight waenganui pō
look after manaaki, atawhai mild – mannered mauritau
look around tirotiro haere mile maero
look titiro milk miraka
lost ngaro million miriona
lots of maha, tokomaha (for people) Milo Mairo
lounge rūma noho mind hinengaro
love aroha minute mēneti
lovely rawe mirror whakaata, mira
lover whaiāipo, te tau o te ate missing kei te ngaro
low hakahaka, pāpaku mistaken pōhēhē
mixer mīhini kōrori
M. mole ira
Monday Mane, Rāhina
McDonalds Makitānara money moni
machine mīhini months of the year ngā marama o te tau
make clear whakawātea moon marama
make correct whakatika moose mūhi
make good whakapai mop rākau, ūkui
make-up paura whakapaipai morepork ruru
male genitals ure morning ata
male tāne mosquito waeroa
man tāne, tangata moth pēpepe
manager kaiwhakahaere mother lands ūkaipō
many (of people) tokomaha mother whaea, whae’, mā, māmā
many high peaks taumata rau mother-in-law hungawai, hungarei
many maha, tini motor bike motopaika
Māori language reo Māori motor car motokā
march hīkoi, tāwhaiwhai, rangatū mountain maunga
March Māehe, Poutū-te-rangi mouse kiore iti
marry moe, mārena moustache hurungutu
mat whāriki muscle uaua
mate e hoa mushroom harore
May Mei, Haratua mussel kūtai, kuku

must me ninth tuaiwa
38 mutton –bird tītī, ōi no kāore, e hē, kāhore
my friend taku hoa, tōku hoa no matter what ahakoa te aha
my taku, tāku, tōku,(plural) aku, āku, ōku, North Island Te Ika a Māui
ngāku, ngōku, wāku, wōku north runga, raro, tokerau
Northland Te Tai Tokerau
N. nose ihu
nose-press hongi
name 1. (n) ingoa, 2. (v) whakaingoa nothing kore, karekau,korekau, horekau
namely arā noun kupu ingoa
nanny nana November Nōema, Whiringa- ā –rangi
Napier Ahuriri now ināianei, āianei
narrow whāiti nuisance hōhā
native tangata whenua number nama
natural māori nurse nēhi
natural talent pūmanawa
nature ao tūturu, taiao O.
nature watch te mātakitaki taiao
naughty dog kurī haututu objects ngā mea
naughty haututu, tīhoihoi obtain riro
neck kakī occupation ūmanga
necktie neketai ocean moana
needle ngira October Oketopa, Whiringa-ā-nuku
neighbor whānau/tāngata noho tata octopus wheke
Nelson Whakatū of mine nāku, nōku
nephew irāmutu office tari
nest kōhanga old tawhito
netball netipāoro old woman ruahine, kuia
never mind hei aha older sibling same sex tuakana (pl)
new hou tuākana
New Plymouth Ngāmotu olive oriwa
New Zealand Niu Tīreni, Nū Tireni, oncoming visiting group rōpū
Aotearoa whakaeke
newsletter pānui one billion kotahi piriona
next month ā tērā marama one hundred kotahi rau
next week ā tērā wiki one million kotahi miriona
next year ā tērā tau one, tahi, kotahi
niece irāmutu one-third hautoru
night of celebration pō whakangahau onion riki
night pō only anahe, anake, noa iho
nine hundred iwa rau open whakatūwhera(-hia), huaki (-na)
nine iwa opening prayer karakia tīmatanga
nineteen tekau mā iwa opening whakatūwheratanga
ninety iwa tekau orange (colour) karaka, kārakaraka

orange (fruit) ārani patient manawanui
orange juice wai ārani pattern tauira 39
orator kaikōrero peace rongo, maungārongo, rangimārie
organiser kaiwhakahaere peaceful mārie
our (plural possessions, plural peach pītiti
owners, not listener) ā mātou, ō mātou peak taumata, tihi
our (plural possessions, two people) peanut pīnati
ā tāua, ō tāua pear pea
our, (plural possessions, two peel waruwaru
owners, not listener) ā māua, ō māua peg titi
out of sight ngaro pen pene
outside waho penguin kororā
oven umu penis ure
over there arā people iwi, tāngata
over there i kō, kei kō ,ki kō pepper pepa
overcome warea perfume/deodorant whakakakara
overseas guests manuhiri tūārangi personification whakatinanatanga
overseas tāwāhi petal puapua
owl ruru, koukou, peho petrol penehīni
phone waea
P. photos whakaahua
phrase kīanga
packet pākete Picton Wairau
paddle hoe picture pikitia, whakaahua
paint peita (-hia) picture theatre whare pikitia
Palmerston North Te Papa-i-ōea piece wāhanga
pants/trousers tarau roa pierce wero
parakeet kākāriki pig poaka
parched hiawai pigeon kererū
parent matua pillow pera
parents mātua pineapple paināporo
parliament pāremata pink mā-whero
parrot kākā pizza parehe
part of wāhanga place where the dead lie whare mate
particularly talented tino toa place names ngā ingoa wāhi
parts of the house ngā wāhanga o te plan whakaritenga, mahere
whare plate pereti
parts of the marae ngā wāhanga o te play football pūrei whutupāoro
marae play tākaro
party ngahau, pō whakangahau playroom rūma tākaro
past holidays hararei-wā-mua plum paramu
past time wā mua plural objects he mea takitini
past travel haerenga – wā-mua pocket pūkoro
path ara pole pou

policeman pirihimana quarter hauwhā
40 pop out puta mai quarter past hauwhā mai i te, koata pāhi
porch mahau quarter to hauwhā ki te, koata ki te
popcorn kānga pahū questions ngā pātai
pork and pūhā poaka me te pūhā quickly kamakama, tere
possum paihamu quiet wahangū
post office poutāpeta
post pou R.
pot kōhua
potato rīwai rabbit rāpeti
pray karakia, whakamoemiti rafters heke
prayer karakia Raglan Whaingaroa
praying mantis rō rain ua
pregnant hapū rather good āhua pai
preparation whakaritenga read pānui
present state āhua ināianei really angry pukuriri, kei te puku te rae
price utu really tired mate moe
prime minister pīrimia realm wāhi
primo tau ana, kei runga noa atu, ka wani kē rear muri
problem raruraru rear pillar pou – tuarangi
professions ngā ūmanga reason kaupapa, take
pronounce whakahua rectangle porowhā
pronunciation and stress te red whero, muramura, kura
whakahuahua me the whakakaha relationships whanaungatanga
pronunciation whakahuahua remember maumahara
protest march hīkoi whakahē reminder whakamaumahara
protest whakahē repetition tāruaruatanga
protocol tikanga report rīpoata
proud whakahihi residence wāhi noho
proverbial sayings whakataukī resource rauemi
pudding purini respect whai koha
pull up huhuti(-a) restaurant whare kai
pumpkin paukena return hoki, whakahoki(-a)
purchase food hoko kai ribs rara
purchase goods hoko taonga rice raihi
purpose of travel pūtake haerenga ride eke
purpose pūtake, take right matau, katau
purse pāhi ripple pōkarekare
pyjamas kākahu moe river awa
rise up maranga
Q. road ara, huarahi, rori
roast tunu (-a)
quality painga,āhua rock kōhatu, toka
quarrel tautohe rock oyster tio

roof tuanui second hēkona
room rūma second tuarua 41
rooster tame heihei section wāhanga
root akaaka, pakiaka see kite
rose rōhi seed kākano
rude song waiata rorirori seized mau
rugby league whutupāoro rīki sell hoko (-na)
rule ture, tikanga send tuku (-na)
run oma sentence pattern rerenga kōrero,
run-down ngenge, kua pau te hau, rūhā whakatakotoranga
Russell Kororāreka separate motuhanga, tuakoi
September Hepetema, Mahuru
S. set in order whakarārangi (-hia), whakapai
set on fire tahu (-na)
sack pēke settle tatū, tau
sacred place wāhi tapu seven hundred whitu rau
sacred tapu seven whitu
sad pōuri seventeen tekau mā whitu
sail tere seventh tuawhitu
salt tote seventy whitu tekau
salt water wai tai shag kawau
sandfly namunamu shake rūrū, wiriwiri
sandwich hānueti shallow pāpaku
satisfied ngata shape āhua, tārei
sauce wairanu, kīnanki shark mako, mangō
saviour kaiwhakaora sharp koi
saxophone rehukoko shaving machine mīhini heu
say kī, mea, kōrero she/he ia
scallop tupa sheep hipi
scared mataku sheet hīti
school holidays ngā hararei kura shell ngata, anga
school kura shine whiti
scissors kutikuti shoes hū
scorpion ngārara timo shop toa
sea moana shore tātahi, uta
sea-egg kina short poto
seafood kaimoana shorts tarau poto
seagull karoro should me
seahorse manaia shoulders pakihiwi, pokohiwi
search kimi(-hia), rapu (-a) shout ūmere
seasons of the year ngā wāhanga o te tau show off whakahīhī
seat for formal speechmaking paepae, shower uwhiuwhi
taumata shrimp tarawera
seaweed rimurimu shut kati (-a)

sick māuiui soon ākuanei
42 side taha, tara – of a meeting house taranui sorry aroha mai
(big side), taraiti (small side) sounds ngā oro
sign language reo rotarota South Africa Te Tonga o Āwherika
significance te whakahiratanga South Island Te Waipounamu/ Te Waka ā
silent wahangū Māui
silver hiriwā South Pacific Islands Ngā Moutere o te
sing waiaita Moana-nui-a-Kiwa
sisters tuāhine, tēina(younger), tuākana South Pacific Ocean Te Moana-nui-a-
(older) Kiwa
sit noho south ronga, raro, runga
sit quietly nohopuku Southern Seas Te Moana-tāpokopoko-a-
six hundred ono rau Tāwhaki
six ono Southland Te Tai Tonga
sixteen tekau mā ono sparkling grapejuice waikarepe
sixth tuaono koropupū
sixty ono tekau speaker kaikōrero
skateboard papa retireti speedy tere
ski retireti (-hia) spider pūngawerewere
skill pūmanawa, pūkenga spike tara
skinny tūpuhi, whīroki spirit wairua
skirt panekoti spit hūare, tūha
Sky Father Ranginui spoon pune
sleep moe sport hākinakina
slippers hiripā sports trainer kaitohutohu mahi tākaro
slow pōturi spot ira
small pakupaku, iti spread out hora
smell rongo spring kōanga
smile menemene square tapawhā
snail ngata squid ngū
snapper tāmure stamp 1. (v) takahi (-a), 2. (n) pane kuini
sneeze tihe stand tū
snore ngongoro starfish pātangatanga
snow hukapapa, puaheiri start tīmata
soap hopi starving matekai
sofa nohonga hāneanea stem tātā (of a plant)
solstice – summer ihu o Hineraumati Stewart Island Rakiura
solstice – winter ihu o Hinetakurua stick rākau
someone I admire Ihopūmanawa stingray whai
someone tētahi tangata, tētahi stomach puku
son tama stop kāti
song of support waiata tautoko store toa
song waiata stories pūrakau
son-in-law hunaonga stove tō

straight through tōtika teeth niho
straight tika, tōtika telephone book pukapuka waea 43
stranger tauhou telephone waea, waea kōrero
strength kaha television pouaka whakaata, tīwī
stress pōraruraru, whakarikarika temporary shed wharau
strike paopao ten tekau, ngahuru
striped whakahekeheke tennis tēnihi
strong kaha tenth tuangahuru, tekau
stubborn ūpoko māro, whakangutungutu thank you kia ora
student tauira, ākonga that (one thing mentioned before)
sub tribe hapū taua
subject kaupapa that is koia rā, ko tēnā, ko tērā
submarine waka-ruku-moana that (near listener) tēnā
sugar huka that (over yonder) tērā
suit, of clothing hūtu the body te tinana
summer raumati the date te rā
sun rā, Tama-nui-te-rā the Māori calendar te maramataka Māori
Sunday Rātapu the new year te tau hou
sunrise te whitinga mai o te rā, te ata hāpara the te (singular) ngā (plural)
sunset te tōnga o te rā therefore nā reira, nō reira
support tautoko the tenth te tekau
swamp hen pūkeko the time te tāima
swan wani their (plural possessions, two
sweet potato kūmara people) ā rāua, ō rāua
sweet reka there reira, konā,korā
sweetheart whaiāipo, tau o te ate there (near listener) konā
swim kauhoe, kaukau there (over yonder) korā
swing tārere therefore nō reira, nā reira
these ēnei, ngēnei, wēnei
T. they (more than two) rātou
they (two people) rāua
table tēpu thing mea
talk mea, kōrero third tuatoru
tall teitei, roa, tāroaroa thirsty hiainu, hiawai
tamper with raweke thirteen tekau mā toru
tap kōrere wai this tēnei
Tasman Sea Te Tai o Rehua those (mentioned before) aua
taste rongo those (near listener) ēnā
tea tī those (over yonder) ērā
teach whakaako, ako thoughtful whakaaro nui
teacher kaiwhakaako, kaiako thousand mano
teachings akoranga thread miro
teaspoon pune-iti three hundred toru mano
teenager rangatahi, mātātahi three toru

throat korokoro travel haere, haerenga
44 through mā treasured possession taonga
throw whiu (-a), maka (-ia) tree rākau
Thursday Tāite, Rāpare triangle tapatoru
ticket tīkiti tribal affiliations hononga ā iwi
time wā, tāima tribal ā iwi
timetable wātaka trip haerenga
tiny iti trousers/pants tarau roa
tired hiamoe, ngenge truck taraka
to boil up kōhua (-tia) trumpet pūtātara
to burn tahu (-a) Tuesday Tūrei, Rātu
to challenge wero (-hia) turn into huri hei
to change tīni (-hia) TV programme whakaaturanga pouaka
to cook (-a) tunu whakataa
toaster mīhini tohi twelve o’clock (midday) poupoutanga o
toe nail maikuku te rā, rānui, tekau mā rua karaka
toes matiwae twelve o’clock (midnight) waenganui
togs kākahu kaukau pō, weherua – pō
toilet paper whēru twenty tekau mā rua
toilet seat tūru tukupara twenty five rua tekau mā rima
toilet wharepaku, heketua twenty rua tekau
tomato juice wai tōmato two hundred rua rau
tomato sauce kīnaki tōmato two rua
tomato tōmato type paopao kupu
tomorrow āpōpō types of food ngā tūmomo kai
tone of voice te tangi o te reo, te āhua o te reo types of tūmomo, momo
tone tangi, āhua
tongue ārero U.
tooth niho
toothbrush paraihe niho ugly weriweri, anuanu
toothpaste paniaku niho unable kāore e taea
topic kaupapa uncle matua kēkē, (plural) mātua kēkē
touch pā, whāwhā underneath raro
touch rugby pā whutupāoro understand mārama
tourist group rōpū tūruhi unit code kōwae tikaga
tourist tūruhi unit wāhanga
towards mai until then mā te wā, ā te wā
towels tauera up runga
town tāone us (three or more, not listener) mātou
tractor tarakihana us two tāua
trade hoko (-na) us two, not listener māua
trader kaihokohoko us, everyone tātou
train station teihana tereina use of te whakamahi
train tereina

V. weak ngoikore
weary ngenge 45
vaccum cleaner mīhini ngongo weave whatu (-ngia), raranga
van waka-kawe Wednesday Wenerei, Rāapa
vegetable garden māra kai week after next ā tērā atu wiki
vegetable hua whenua week wiki
vehicles ngā waka weetbix wītipiki
verb kupu mahi welcome ceremonies pōwhiri
verbal welcome reo pōwhiri well ora
very clever koi te hinengaro Wellington Te Whanganui-ā- Tara, Pōneke
very good tino pai, kei runga noa atu West Coast Te Tai Hau-ā-uru
very tino west uru
via mā wet mākū
video player mīhini whakaata whale tohorā (baleen whale), parāoa
(toothed whale)
village papa kāinga
what a shame ka aroha hoki
vision kitenga
what aha
visiting etiquette tikanga a te manuhiri
when, future ā hea, ā whea
visitor manuhiri, manuwhiri
where whea, hea
vocabulary kupu hou
which tēhea, tēwhea
voice 1.(n) reo, 2.(v) whakapuaki
white mā
vowel oro puare
whitebait inanga
who did (it) nā wai?
W. who wai
why he aha ai
waist hope
wife hoa wahine
wait taihoa, whanga, tatari
winter hōtoke, takurua
walk hīkoi
wisdom mātauranga, mōhiotanga
walk on to marae whakaeke
wise or learned person tohunga
walking stick tokotoko
with me, ki
wall pakitara
within i roto
walnut wānati
without a doubt kāore e kore
want hiahia, pīrangi
wolf wuruhi
war dance haka
woman wahine
warm mahana
women wāhine
wash horoi
wood rākau
wash room rūma horoi
word kupu
washing machine mīhini horoi kākahu
work mahi
washing powder paura horoi kākahu
worker kaimahi
waste 1.(n) para, 2.(v) moumou
world ao
watch mātakitaki
worm noke
watermelon merengi
worn out rūhā
water tap kōrere wai
wrist/elbow whatīanga
water wai
write tuhituhi, tuhi
watercress wātakirihi
wrong hē

Y.
46
years ngā tau
yell ūmere
yellow eyed penguin hoiho
yellow kōwhai
yes āe
yesterday inanahi
yoghurt miraka tepe
you (more than two) koutou
you koe
you two kōrua
younger siblings of the same sex
teina (singular) tēina (plural)
your (plural possessions, plural
owners) ā koutou, ō koutou
your (plural possessions, two
people) ā kōrua, ō kōrua
your tō, tōu, tāu, tōhou, tāhau
youth rangatahi, taiohi, mātātahi

47
Section Two
Ngā tatau - Theme Pages

Ingoa Wāhi
48
Placenames
TE MOANA-NUI-A-KIWA
(SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN)
Te Rēinga | Cape Reinga
Kororāreka | Russell
Te Whanga-a-Reipae | Whangarei
Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe | Hokianga
Aotea | Great Barrier Island
TE TAI-O-REHUA
Pārāwai | Thames
(TASMAN SEA)
Kaikohe
Tauranga Moana | Tauranga
Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland
Whakatāne
Te Kaha
TE IKA-A-MĀUI
Rāhui Pōkeka | Huntly
(NORTH ISLAND)
Ngāruawāhia
Kirikiriroa | Hamilton Te Rotorua-nui-a-

Kahumatamomoe
Kāwhia | Rotorua
Taupō-nui-a-Tia | Taupō
Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa
Ngāmotu | New Plymouth | Taranaki | Gisborne
Te Hāwera | Hāwera
Te Māhia | Māhia
Whanganui Te Wairoa | Wairoa
Te Papaioea | Palmerston North
Ahuriri | Napier
Ōtaki
Heretaunga | Hastings
Te Onetahua | Farewell Spit
Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua | Dannevirke
Whakatū | Nelson Taitoko | Levin
Waiharakeke | Blenheim Whakaoriori | Masterton
Kawatiri | Westport RAUKAWA MOANA Te Whanganui-a-Tara

(COOK STRAIT) | Wellington
Māwhera | Greymouth
Te Ahi-kai-kōura-a-Tama-ki-te-rangi
| Kaikōura
Aoraki | Mt Cook
Ōtautahi | Christchurch
Piopiotahi |
Milford Sound
Akaroa | Banks Peninsula
Te Kirikiri |
Queenstown
Wharekauri | Chatham Islands
Te Tihi-o-Maru | Timaru
Te Oha-a-Maru | Oamaru
Ōtepoti | Dunedin
Waihōpai | Invercargill
TE WAIPOUNAMU / TE WAKA A MĀUI
Motu Pōhue/ (SOUTH ISLAND)
Murihiku | Bluff
TE ARA A KIWA (FOREAUX STRAIT)
RAKIURA
(STEWART ISLAND)

Ingoa Tāngata
49
Personal Names
Tāne Wahine
Male Female
Māori Translation Māori Translation
Rāwiri David Kataraina Catherine
Hone John Mereana Maryanne
Pita Peter Hēni Jane
Mikaere Michael Rīpeka Rebecca
Tāmati Thomas Hune June
Rōpata Robert Irihāpeti Elizabeth
Ārana Allan Mere Mary
Hōhepa Joseph Wikitoria Victoria
Ānaru Andrew Hūhana Susan
Anahera Angel
Matiu Matthew
Kahu
Ani Anne
Hera Sarah

Kupu Āhua
50
Describing Words
Q: Kei te pēhea koe? A: Kei te ahau
pai - good ora - well

māuiui - sick
hiakai - hungry hiainu - thirsty
hiamoe - sleepy
pukuriri - angry hōhā - fed up
makariri - cold wera - hot
ngenge - tired harikoa - happy

pōuri - sad

Kupu Whakapapa
51
Relationship Words
whaea tipuna - grandmother matua tipuna - grandfather
whaea - mother matua - father
whaea kēkē - aunty matua kēkē - uncle
hoa wahine - wife hoa tāne - husband
tuakana - older sister teina - younger sister
tama - son tamāhine - daughter

irāmutu - irāmutu -
niece nephew
mokopuna - grandchild

Ngā Wāhanga o te Tinana
52
Parts Of The Body
tuarā
back
huruhuru
body hair
kakī
neck
korokoro
throat
ū
breasts
uma/poho
chest
hope whatianga
hip elbow/wrist
puku
ringa stomach
arm/hand
nono/whero/tou
matimati backside
finger
ure
tara male genitals
female genitals
pona/turi
waewae knee
leg
rekereke
ankles
maikuku
kūwhā
finger/toenail
thighs

Te Ūpoko
53
The Head
rae - forehead
makawe - hair
kanohi - face
tukemata - eyebrow
karu - eye
kamo - eyeball
ihu - nose
ira - mole/spot
taringa - ear
hurungutu - moustache
pāpāringa - cheek
pāhau - beard
niho - teeth
kauae - chin

Ngā Wāhanga o te Tau
54
Seasons Of The Year
Raumati - Summer Ngāhuru - Autumn
Takurua / Hōtoke - Winter Kōanga - Spring

Ngā Marama o te Tau
55
Months Of The Year
JANUARY HĀNUERE Kohitātea
FEBRUARY PEPUERE Hui-tānguru
MARCH MĀEHE Poutū-te-rangi
APRIL ĀPERIRA Paenga-whāwhā
MAY MEI Haratua
JUNE HUNE Pīpiri
JULY HŪRAE Hōngongoi
AUGUST ĀKUHATA Here-turi-kōkā
SEPTEMBER HEPETEMA Mahuru
OCTOBER OKETOPA Whiringa-ā-nuku
NOVEMBER NOEMA Whiringa-ā-rangi
DECEMBER TĨHEMA Hakihea

Ngā Rā o te Wiki
56
Days Of The Week
MONDAY MANE RĀHINA
TUESDAY TŪREI RĀTŪ
WEDNESDAY WENEREI RĀAPA
THURSDAY TĀITE RĀPARE
FRIDAY PARAIRE RĀMERE
SATURDAY HĀTAREI RĀHOROI
SUNDAY RĀTAPU RĀTAPU
TUESDAY
AUGU
5S T

Q: Ko te aha te wā?
57
A: Ko te rua karaka te wā
1
2 3
7
8 9
1. rua karaka - 2 o'clock

2. e iwa mēneti pāhi i te ono karaka - 9 minutes past 6 o'clock
3. hāwhe pāhi i te toru karaka/haurua mai i te toru karaka - half past three
4. tekau mā rua karaka - 12 o'clock
5. koata pāhi i te tahi karaka/hauwhā mai i te tahi karaka - quarter past one
6. e ono mēneti ki te toru karaka - 6 minutes to 3
7. whā karaka - 4 o'clock
8. koata ki te rima karaka/hauwhā ki te rima karaka - quarter to 5
9. tekau mēneti pāhi i te tekau karaka - 10 minutes past 10

Te Tatau
58
Counting
kore tahi rua toru
whā rima ono whitu
waru iwa
tekau
rua rau
tekau mā iwa
iwa rau, iwa tekau mā iwa

rua tekau mā rua
kotahi mano
iwa tekau mā iwa
rua mano mā tahi
kotahi rau
raua mano mā rua
kotahi rau mā tahi

Ngā tae
59
Colours
Mā is white
Whero is red
Kākāriki is green
Pango is black
Mangu is too
AEIOU
Kōwhai is yellow
Parauri is brown
Kikorangi is blue
Karaka is orange
AEIOU
Waiata written by Bea Piatarihi Tui Yates

Kihini
60
Kitchen
umu tira - microwave oven

umu - oven; tō - stove
karapu - gloves
kāpata - cupboard
tīkera - kettle
tūru - chairs
mīhini tōhi - toaster
tēpu - table kapu - cup
mīhini kawhe
coffee machine
kaputī
papa tapahi cup of tea pereti - plate
mīhini kōrori - mixer chopping board
kōhua - pot
oko - bowl
iputahu - frying pan
ipu waihonga
glass of water
wine glass/s
ipu wai
pouaka makariri - fridge rehukāka

tāora - teatowel pepper
pāka tio - freezer
paepae
plate
tote
salt
naihi - knife tīwara

paokaoka pune - spoon
can opener
cutlery
pūrere horoi tīpāta - teapot
taputapu - dishwasher paoka - fork

Rūma Horoi Kākahu
61
Laundry
pākete - bucket
haeana - iron
mīhini horoi kākahu -

washing machine
paura horoi kākahu - kōrere wai - tap

washing powder
titi - peg
rākau ūkui - mop

pahikete kākahu -
clothes basket
mīhini whakamaroke kākahu -
dryer

Rūma Horoi Tinana
62
Bathroom
paraihe niho - toothbrush
paniaku niho - toothpaste

tāpu kaukau - bath tub
whēre - toilet paper

uwhiuwhi - shower
heru - comb
paurawhakapaipai -
make-up
whakakakara -
deodorant/perfume
mīhini heu - shaving machine
kutikuti - scissors tūru tukupara - toilet

tauera - towels

Rūma Moe
63
Bedroom
whakaata/mira - mirror
rama - lamp
moenga - pēpi - cot
pāta putiputi -
flower pot
whakairi -
coat hanger
kākahu moe - pyjamas
wātaropa - wardrobe
toroā - drawers ngeru - cat
pera - pillows
hīti - sheets
paraikete - blankets
moenga - bed
pēke - bag
whāriki - rug
hiripa - slippers

Rūma Noho
64
Living Room
pouaka whakaata - tūru/nohoanga - chair

television nohoanga roa - sofa
rou marama - remote control
kōwhiuwhiu - fan waea pūkoro

cellphone
aupuru - cushion
whakaahua - picture
whata/pukapuka
bookcase
mīhini whakamahana - heater
tīwharawhara - stereo
taka kōpaepae - CD player
kōpaepae - CD
ārai - curtain tēpu - table

He Manu
65
Birds
tūī - parson
pīpīwharauroa kiwi
shining cuckoo
pūkeko -
kākā - parrot ruru - owl swamphen
tīrairaka - fantail
kāhu - hawk
kererū - pigeon
toroa -
albatross
tītī - muttonbird hoiho - yellow eyed penguin

He Ngāngara
66
Insects
ant pōpokoroa
bee pī
butterfly pūrerehua
caterpillar anuhe
cicada kihikihi
cockroach papata
cricket pihareinga
daddy-long-legs pekepekeharatua
dragonfly kapokapowai
flea puruhi
fly ngaro/rango
grasshopper kōwhitiwhiti
headlice kutu
ladybird ngoikura
mosquito waeroa
sandfly namunamu
scorpion ngārara timo
snail ngata
spider pūngāwerewere
praying mantis rō
worm noke

He Kararehe nō tāwāhi
67
Animals
raiona - lion
muhi - moose
kakīroa - giraffe
kangarū - kangaroo
hipohipo
hippopotamus
taika - tiger
tuatara - lizard
Pea - Bear
arewhana - elephant

Ngā Kararehe Pāmu
68
Animals
hetiheti - hedgehog
paihamu - possum
hōiho - horse
ngeru - cat
kurī - dog
nane koti - goat
hipi - sheep remereme - lamb
rāpeti - rabbit
poaka - pig
kau - cow
tia - deer kāwhe - calf

He Kākahu
69
Clothing
tīhāte - tee-shirt
kaka - dress
panekoti - skirt
hakete/koti - coat
hūtu - suit
poraka - jersey
pōtae - hat
tarau tangari - pants/jeans
tarau poto - shorts
hū - shoes
kamupūtu - boots
neketai - necktie mōwhiti - glasses

tokena - socks

He Momo Waka
70
Transport
waka topatopa - helicopter
hōiho - horse
tarakihana - tractor
waka-rere-rangi - aeroplane
motopaika - motorbike
taraka - truck
waka - canoe pahi - bus
waka-moe - caravan
motokā - car
paihikara - bicycle tereina - train

Kupu Hāngai
71
Opposites
tawhito - old
whānui - wide
whāiti - narrow hou - new
pōuri - dark mārama - light
mā - clean paru - dirty
maui matau
left right
koa - happy pōuri - sad
teitei - tall
ora - alive mate - dead
poto - short
ātaahua - beautiful weriweri - ugly

Kupu Hāngai
72
Opposites
mauritau - calm pukuriri - angry pai - good kino - bad
māngere - lazy
pōturi - slow tere - fast pukumahi - hardworking
kaha - strong ngoikore - weak

mākū - wet maroke - dry
poto - short wera - hot makariri - cold
tāroaroa - tall
hōhonu - deep pāpaku - shallow

73
Section Three
Oral Traditions

Section 3: 'Oral Traditions'
74
This section will provide you with some simple examples of Māori prayers, proverbs, idioms, and
speeches that you can use in your everyday activities.
These language expressions are an awesome way to grasp the language, and involve your family.
Here’s a challenge: try using one for every day of the week! The more te reo you use, the more te
reo you will remember. It’s that simple! Now start practising.
Karakia
Karakia can be translated as prayers or incantations. Māori believe that karakia is a way to
acknowledge one's spiritual connection with the land, surroundings, and ancestors. Karakia is
also an essential part of Māori culture when a degree of tapu (sacredness) is involved.
There are different types of karakia which are used for different purposes. Today we see that
karakia are often used to open a hui (meeting), to seek guidance, to wish goodwill on people, to
welcome and farewell a new day, to show gratitude for the food that has been received, to ensure a
safe journey when travelling, and so on.
Over the following pages, we have selected three types of karakia that you may wish to learn and
use for different occasions. Each will provide an example of traditional karakia, and a biblical-
influenced one. The three types of karakia we have chosen are
• karakia timatanga (used to open the day or meeting),

• karakia whakamutunga (used to end the day or meeting), and
• karakia kai (when we bless the food)

Karakia Timatanga
75
Used in the morning to welcome a new day, or at the beginning of a hui, the use of karakia
ensures good will upon the collective, and a good start to the day.
Karakia Timatanga
He hōnore, he korōria ki te atua

All honor and glory to our maker
He maungārongo ki
Let there be peace and tranquility on Earth
te whenua
Goodwill to mankind
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa
Amen
Āmine
Karakia Timatanga
Whakataka te hau ki te uru Cease the winds from the west

Whakataka te hau ki te tonga Cease the winds from the south
Kia mākinakina ki uta Let the breeze blow over the land
Kia mātaratara ki tai Let the breeze blow over the ocean
E hī ake ana e Let the red-tipped dawn come with a
atākura sharpened air
He tio, he huka, hauhunga A touch of frost and a promise of a glorious
Tihei mauri ora! day!
Karakia Timatanga
Tukua taku wairua kia rere ki ngā

taumata Let my spirit ascend to the topmost summits
Hei ārahi i āku mahi As a guide for all that I do
Kia mau kia ita So that it can be retained forever more
Kia kore ai e ngaro Never to be lost
Kia pupuri kia whakamaua kia tinā (tinā!) So that it is preserved
Haumi e And maintained
Hui e So that it is secure
Tāiki e!

Karakia Whakamutunga
76
At the end of the day or the conclusion of a gathering it is appropriate to conclude with a karakia,
giving thanks for the events of the day, and the people who have joined you. The karakia may
include a request for protection, so that every person arrives home safely to their families. These
karakia are often used to end the day on a positive note.
Kia tau te manaakitanga Let the blessings and protection

Ki runga i tēnā i tēnā o tātou Be bestowed upon all of us
Kia piki te ora, kia piki te māramatanga To lift our well being, to lift our understanding
Kia hoki pai atu, kia hoki pai mai So that we may leave well, and return well
Tūturu whakamaua kia tina! (tina!) Let us be united as one!
Haumi e! Bind it!
Hui e! Fix it!
Tāiki e! It is done!
E te Kaihanga, tēnei te tuku whakawhetai Oh God we thank you for this day
ki a koe mō tēnei rā.
We thank you for the many
Ngā reo whakamoemiti mō ngā tini
Blessings you have given us
Manaakitanga i tuku iho mai koe
Dear Lord, guide us
E te Atua, ārahina mai mātou
So that we may arrive safely to our families
I a mātou e hoki ana ki ō mātou whānau
We send these words of thanks
Ka tuku atu i ēnei kupu whakamoemiti
I runga tō ingoa, In your sacred name
Āmine Amen

77
Kia tau, ki a tātou katoa May the grace

Te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki a Ihu karaiti Of our Lord Jesus Christ
Me te aroha ō te Atua The love of God
Me te whiwhinga tahitanga And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with
Ki te wairua tapu us
Ake ake ake Now and forever more
Āmine Amen
Karakia Kai
The purpose of the following karakia is to give thanks for the food you are about to receive.
Acknowledgement can be made to nature who has provided the food, to the people who have
prepared the food, and the people who accompany you to eat the food.
Karakia Kai
We acknowledge these fruits laid before us

Nau mai e ngā hua From the environment, from the cultivated
O te wao, o te ngākina, o te wai tai, o te gardens, from the sea,
wai Māori from the fresh waters
Nā Rongo, nā Tāne, nā Tangaroa,
Provided by Rongo, by Tāne,
nā Maru
by Maru
Ko Ranginui e tū nei
I acknowledge Ranginui who is above me
Ko Papatūānuku e takoto nei
Papatuanuku who lies beneath me
Tūturu whakamāua
Let this be my commitment to all!
Kia tina, tina!
Hui e! Bind it,
Tāiki e! fix it,
it is done!

Karakia Kai
78
Whakapaingia ēnei kai Bless this food

Hei oranga mō o mātou tinana For our physical well being
Whāngaia hoki o mātou wairua Also feed our spirits
Amine Amen
You may wish to print these karakia and hang them on your wall to teach and include your
whānau.

Mihimihi - Acknowledgements (an introduction)
79
We have provided you with a simple template to use, to help you form a mihimihi for just about any
occasion. Below is an example of what a mihimihi looks like using the words from the templates set
out on ages 80 - 84.
“Kia Ora (1) tātou kua (2) tae mai nei ki (3) tēnei marae ki (4) te whakawhiti i (5) whakaaro. Ka nui
(6) te hari
“Greetings to us all who have arrived here to this marae to discuss the ideas. Great is our joy
mō (7) tō koutou kaha ki te (8) haeremai ki te (9) hāpai i (10) ngā kaupapa e pā ana (11) ki tēnei
hui.”
for your support in coming to uplift the topics concerning this meeting.”

1. Kia Ora = Greetings to (please choose from the following)
80
Māori English
Tātou Us all
Koutou You all
Wāhine mā Ladies
E hoa mā Friends
Tamariki mā Children
E te whānau Family
E ngā iwi People
E ngā hau e whā Four winds
E ngā waka The canoes
E te komiti The committee
E ngā mana The powers in being
E aku rangatira My chiefs
2. Kua = Who have
Māori English
Tae mai nei Arrived here
Hui mai nei Gathered here
Tatū mai nei Settled here
Whakamine mai nei Congregated here
Haere mai nei Come here
Eke mai nei Come on here

3. Ki = To
81
Māori English
Tēnei marae This marae
Tēnei kura This school
Tēnei whare This house
Tēnei wāhi This place
Tēnei hui This meeting
Tēnei whakaminenga This assembly
Tēnei huihuinga Gathering
4. Ki = To
Māori English
Te kōrero/ whakawhiti Discuss
Te whakarite Determine
Te hari mai Carry
Te mau mai Bring
Te kawe mai Bring
Te mihimihi Greet
Te whakangahau Entertain
Te pōti Elect
5. I
Māori English
Ngā whakaaro The ideas
Te aroha The love
Ngā mema hou The new members
Ngā kaupapa The topics
Ngā manuhiri The visitors
Ngā kōrero The discussions

6. Ka nui = Great is
82
Māori English
Te hari The joy
Te koa The happiness
Te aroha The love
Te tangi The sorrow
Te rekareka The elation
Te pōuri The sorrow
7. Mō = For you
Māori English
Tō koutou kaha Support
Tō koutou maia Strength
Tō koutou piripono Loyalty
Tō koutou Manawa nui Dedication
Tō koutou kai ngākau Interest
8. Ki te = In
Māori English
Haere mai Coming
Aro mai Attending
Huihui mai Assembling

9. Ki te = To
83
Māori English
Hāpai Uplift
Āwhina Support
Tautoko Confirm
Whakamārama Explain
Whakatikatika Solve
Whakatūtuki Complete
Whakatakoto Determine
Whakawhaiti Narrow/ collect
Whakarongo Listen
Whakarapopoto Summarise
Whakarārangi Itemise
Kōrerorero Discuss
10. I = The
Māori English
Ngā kaupapa Topics
Ngā tikanga Love, customs
Ngā āhuatanga Appearance
Ngā kōrero Discussions
Ngā take Matters, subject
Ngā pitopito kōrero Messages

11. E pā ana ki = Concerning
84
Māori English
Tēnei hui This meeting
Tēnei rohe This district, area
Tēnei hapū This tribe
Tēnei iwi People
Tēnei kura This school
Tēnei kōmiti This committee
This tertiary institution/ conference/

Tēnei wānanga
forum
Once you have welcomed your audience (using the mihimihi template), you can inform your audience
that you will be speaking in English by saying…
• “Inaianei ka kōrero ahau i roto i te reo Pakēhā – And now I will be speaking in English” -
After you have finished your kōrero, you may conclude your kōrero in Te Reo Māori by saying…
• “Ka mutu noa iho ngā kōrero mō tēnei wā. Nō reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou
katoa! - And that concludes my speech for today. Thank you all very much!”

These are but simple guidelines for you, should you choose to incorporate some reo into your
speech. We have also included some examples of mihi you may wish to use. Have a look! And 85
remember use “koe” for one person, “kōrua” for two people, or “koutou” for more than two people.
Mihi To A New Work Colleague
Kia Ora tātou katoa e hui tahi mai nei i tēnei rāngi
E te rangatira, nau mai
Ki tēnei tūranga hou kua riro nei i a koe
He aha i pēnei ai?
Nā te mōhio o ngā rangatira o konei,
E taea ana e koe te kawe
Ngā mahi me ngā wero o tēnei tūranga
Kia maumahara hoki koe
Kei konei mātou hei tautoko i a koe i roto i ngā āhuatanga o tō tūranga hou
Nō reira, nau mai ki waenganui i a mātou
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa!
Greetings to us all who have gathered together this day

To the esteemed colleague, we welcome you
To this new position you have gained
Why did this happen?
Because our leaders know that
You are able to carry
The many tasks and challenges of this position
Please remember also
That we are here to support you in your new position
So we welcome you amongst us

Formal Occasions
86
For formal occasions such as pōwhiri, it is common to add different dimensions to your speech. It
would be appropriate and helpful for you to seek guidance from somebody fluent in te reo Māori,
so that they can teach you the customs and practices of whaikōrero which is a sacred and intricate
art. To help you, we have provided you with an example of a short mihimihi you can use if you are
manuhiri (visitor) on a marae, and another one if you are tangata whenua (local).
Some dimensions that are often used in whaikōrero;
• An acknowledgement to god and or a karakia

• A tauparapara (incantation) or whakataukī (proverb) to start the speech
• Acknowledgements to those ancestors who have passed
• Acknowledgements to the meeting house, mountains and rivers
• Acknowledgements to all people represented
• Your whakapapa or information on who you are
Mihi you would use at a pōwhiri if you are tangata whenua and are welcoming manuhiri:
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau rangatira mā
To all authorities, all languages, and all chiefly people represented here
Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings to you all
E ngā mate, haere, haere, haere atu rā
To those who have passed on farewell
E ngā iwi kua huihui nei, tēnā koutou
To all people gathered here today, greetings
E ngā manuhiri, nau mai haere mai ki tēnei hui
To the visitors, welcome to this gathering
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all
Ko (insert your name) tōku ingoa
My name is (insert your name)
Nō (insert the name of the place where you come
from) ahau
I come from (insert the place you come from)

• Make your speech in English 87
• Note: you may also want to include a whakataukī here that supports your speech. Then
conclude with:
Nō reira
Therefore
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa

Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all (When used at the end of a speech tēnā koutou also
means I acknowledge you all)

Whakataukī - Proverbs
88
Whakataukī are sayings, or messages that have been inherited from ancestors, as teachings
and learnings for generations today. They are used to encourage, caution, and teach us about
the world and its surroundings, and people’s behaviour. Over the next couple of pages, we have
provided you with some examples to use.
Whakataukī is an awesome way to stress the importance of your kōrero, or to emphasise the
message in your mihimihi . For example the following examples have been used in mihimihi to
thank people who have worked hard to ensure that an event was successful:
‘Ka tika a muri, ka tika a mua, ka rere pai ngā āhuatanga katoa’ – ‘If the back is in order, and the
front is in order, all will go well’'
‘Ki a koutou katoa e hāpai ana i tēnei kaupapa, tēnei te mihi maioha ki a koutou.’ – ‘To all of you
who are uplifting this event, this is a greeting of thanks given to you all’
Whakataukī To Describe A Person
Hohonu kakī, pāpaku uaua - Long on words, short on actions - Refers to a lazy person who talks
about doing a lot, yet doesn’t do anything.
Me te kete kainga e riringi ana ki te pari – Like a basket of empty shells being poured over a cliff
- Refers to a lazy person who makes a lot of noise about doing something, yet there is no substance
behind their words.
Arero rua – Two tongues - Refers to a person who always changes their own mind or opinion.
He hākuwai te manu e karanga tonu ana i tōna ingoa – The hākuwai is a bird who calls their own
name - Refers to a person who always boasts about themselves.
E kore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna reka – A kūmara does not speak of its own sweetness - One
should not boast about their own greatness. It is for their peers to praise them, not that of the
individual.
He māramatanga tō tēnei whetu. He māramatanga tō tērā whetu – Each star has its own
luminescence or presence in the sky - Like the stars, each individual has their own personality.

Whakataukī To Inspire People
89
Okea ururoatia – Never say die - Urges people to persevere and to never give up on achieving their
goals and dreams.
Ahakoa he iti te matakahi, ka pakaru i a ia te tōtara – Even though the wedge is small, it brings
down the mighty tōtara tree - Used to denote that with effort and determination, one can achieve
great things.
He manako te koura i kore ai – Hoping and wishing to have a crayfish will not bring it into being
- Stresses that you should strive for what you desire. Wishing for something will not bring it into
being.
Hokia ki tō maunga tapu kia purea ai koe e ngā hau a Tāwhirimātea – Return to your mountains
to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea - Refers to the spiritual uplifting that can be gained
from one returning to their ancestral and tribal land.
Tōku reo, tōku ohooho, tōku reo, tōku māpihi maurea, tōku reo, tōku whakakai marihi -
My language is my awakening, my language is my growing desire within, my language my
ornamental grace - Refers to the importance of the Māori language for one's well being.
He ika kai ake i raro, he rāpaki i raro – As a fish nibbles from below, so the ascent of a hill begins
from the bottom - Refers to the development of a skill requires much practice.
Kia mau ki to Māoritanga – Hold fast to your Māori culture - Encourages us to learn our culture
and to never take knowledge for granted.
E tūtaki ana ngā kapua o te rangi, kai runga a Mangōroa e kōpae pū ana –The clouds in the sky
close in but above them extends the Milky Way - Refers to that no matter how gloomy the outlook of
something may be there is always something favorable to be found in the background.

Whakataukī That Stress The Importance Of Working Together
90
Ākuanei a kino tō ai me he rā – Soon evil disappears like the setting sun - Illustrates that a
community can overcome evil by working together towards a common purpose.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini – My success is not mine alone, it comes
from the collective - Acknowledges that a person’s achievement was earned with the help and
encouragement of their family, friends and colleagues.
E kore e horo i a rātou te hauhunga – They will not dispel the frost - Is used to explain that a small
number of workers cannot be expected to complete the work of many. Therefore everybody must pull
their own weight.
E ngaki ana ā mua, e tōtō mai ana a muri – If the first group do the work properly, the following
group can accomplish the task - Stresses the importance of working together as a collective in order
to achieve a common purpose.
Ko tāu rourou, ko tāku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi – With your contribution, and with my contribution,
the people will survive and grow - Encapsulates the achievement people can make when they work
together.
He ora te whakapiri, he mate te whakatakariri - There is strength in unity, defeat in anger -

Stresses that more can be achieved when people work together, instead of being uncooperative and
working against each other.
Mehemea ka moemoea ahau, ko ahau anake, mehemea ka moemoea tātou, ka taea e tātou – If I
dream alone, alone I dream, if we dream together, together we dream - Wise words spoken by Te
Puea Herangi that great things are possible which can be accomplished, if we work together.

Whakataukī As Wise Words Of Wisdom
91
E haunui ana i raro, e hari ana i runga – It’s blustery below but the sky above is clear - Used in a
situation when a difficult period has passed, and the way ahead is now easier.
E kore koe e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea – You shall never be lost for you are a sacred
seed sown in the heavens - Depicts that a persons mana and strength will never erode or fade, as
they inherited that mana from their ancestors.
Kei whawhainoa mai te rau o te rātā – Don’t pluck the blossoms of the rātā tree - Is expressed
when a person believes that things are perfect just the way they are, and should not be changed.
He iti tangata e tupu, he iti toki e iti tonu – People grow, adzes remain small - Stresses that people
are more important than material things.
Ko te kai rapu, ko ia te kite – He who seeks will find - That in order for one to attain their desire,
they must seek it both mentally and physically.
Ruia aitea, kia tū ko te taikākā anake – Cast aside the sapwood and gather up the red heartwood
- Applies to people making judgments on how to choose friends, advising that one should choose
good solid friends, over less reliable ones.
Tēnā te ringa tango parahia – That is the hand that pulls out weeds - Is used to describe a diligent
hard-working person.
Ehara ahau i te rangatira engari he ata nō te tangata – I am not a chiefly person but rather the
reflection of one - An expression of humility.
Ka hinga me te mangō tāeo – One should die like a shark with courage and tenacity - Is used to
express that a person should always fight for what they believe in.

Iwi Dialects
92 An iwi dialect can be understood as a variation of language or words, which is characteristic
and unique to a specific iwi. These differences are evident within the pronunciation of words,
vocabulary and idioms.
The focus for you, at this stage as a beginner should be to learn the language. If you are fortunate
enough to learn your own iwi dialect, then ‘ka mau te wehi!’ that is awesome. If you can’t then
DON’T WORRY. It is possible to learn your dialect at a later stage. However the main focus for
you now is on learning te reo.
The following are some very basic examples of dialectal differences amongst iwi.
In the Whanganui/ Taranaki regions the ‘h’ is not pronounced and is replaced by a glottal stop so
the word ‘whenua’ (land) becomes w’enua.
In the Tūhoe region in the eastern Bay of Plenty, ‘ng’ has merged with ‘n’ so the word ‘karanga’
(to call) becomes ‘karana’.
In parts of the Far North region for some iwi the letter ‘w’ is not pronounced and is replaced by a
glottal stop so the word whakaaro (thought) becomes ‘hakaaro.’
In the South Island dialects, the ‘ng’ is replaced by a ‘k’ so you get words like ‘karanga’ (to call)
becomes ‘karaka’. Here is an example, using the word ‘whakarongo’ (to listen.)
Tainui Whakarongo
Whanganui/ Taranaki W'karongo
Tūhoe (Eastern Bay of Plenty) Whakarono
Te Taitokerau (Far North) 'hakarongo
Te Waipounamu (South Island) Whakaroko
Here is another example using the word 'whatianga' (elbow).
Tainui Whatianga
Whanganui/ Taranaki W'atianga
Tūhoe (Eastern Bay of Plenty) Whatiana
Te Taitokerau (Far North) 'hatianga
Te Waipounamu (South Island) Whatiaka

Hei mahi: We have provided a list of words below. Now see if you can work out how each word
would be pronounced in the different iwi dialects. 93
Karanga (to call)

Rangatira (chief)
Whakaaro (thought)
Whenua (land)
Whanaungatanga (relatedness)
Taranaki/
Te Waipounamu Tainui Te Taitokerau Tuhoe
Whanganui
Karanga
Rangatira
Whakaaro
Whenua
Whanaungatanga

Idioms, Colloquialisms, and the use of Slang:
94 Idioms, colloquialisms, and the use of slang are all forms of informal language expressions which
are communicated by Māori speakers in everyday conversation.
Māori love using these forms of expression, as they bring out the uniqueness in iwi dialects,
where some expressions used may be specific to that iwi. For example in Māori “kei te aha?”
means “what are you doing?” However if you are in Ngāti Porou, which is the East Coast of New
Zealand “kei te aha” may mean “how are you?”
This may be problematic for learners, as these words will have a specialised meaning known only
by the iwi or group who created them.
Therefore the aim of this section is to make you aware that these language expressions exist.
It is impossible to provide you with every example, however if you do hear one that is foreign
to you, then ask somebody who is fluent in te reo. Slowly you will be able to add to your kete of
knowledge.
Idioms exist in every language. An idiom can be understood as a phrase which has a figurative
meaning, rather than a literal one. Idioms in Māori are called kīwaha. Kīwaha are being created
every day, and are symbolic of conversational language.
Colloquialisms are words which are employed in conversational language but not in formal
writing, for example the words y’all (you all), wanna (want to), gonna (going to). An example in
Māori may be whāmere – family, or aue taku atua! – oh my god.
Try using some of these words everday!
The Raupo Phrasebook of Modern Māori (2011). Scotty Morrison

Ae mārika! - For sure! 95
Meinga Meinga - Is that so!
Koirā tāku - That's what I think Engari koe!
Ka tau kē! - Fantastic!
Engari koe! - You're awesome!
Kua taka te kapa - I get the picture now
Ka aroha kē! - How sad!
Koia! Koia! - That explains it
Kua oti te ao! - That says it all!
Koinā tāku - That's what I rekon!
Tō ihu! - Butt out!
Akene koe i a au! - You watch it or else!
Hoihoi koe! - Bite your tongue!
Anā e pūkana mai nā - Right under your nose
Whakaputa mōhio - Know it all
Kaitoa! - Serves you right!
Mo taku hē - I'm sorry
Hika mā! - For crying out loud!
Me hāngai te kōrero - Don't beat around the bush
Te weriweri rā - That creep
Kua pakaru te pūkoro – I’m broke (no money)
Tarau makere! – Promiscuous woman!
Ure paratī – Promiscuous man!

Notes
96

97
Section Four
Activity Pages

Ngā ingoa wāhi
98
Place-names in Aotearoa/ New Zealand
1. Match the English place-names with the Māori equivalent:
Auckland Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa
Hamilton Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Gisborne Waihōpai
New Plymouth Kirikiriroa
Wellington Tāmaki Makaurau
Christchurch Ōtepoti
Dunedin Ōtautahi
Invercargill Ngāmotu
Bluff Motupōhue
2. Write the Māori place names on the solid lines provided on the next page:
Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa Ōtepoti
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Ōtautahi
Waihōpai Ngāmotu
Kirikiriroa Motupōhue
Tāmaki Makaurau
Write the following District names on the dotted lines provided on the next page:
Te Tai Hau-ā-uru
Te Tai Rāwhiti
Te Tai Tonga
Te Tai Tokerau

Aotearoa – New Zealand
99

Kōrero Tūtaki
100
Meeting People
L F X F H Y R R Q Q H Ē M A I
N R D N P I Q R M Q I C A Z V
E B L O R U A P F L A W T W A
E J Q Z P J K M Y I K C E Q B
I A W E T A M U O Ō A B M V P
U N I A I H A T R E I X O R A
Ē G K Z I U M X E I N K E N Y
M V L A P A N J Y I R I P X C
R Ō W D T H X I U S O I A P K
Ā A H E O E Z I E A Z J O J I
I Y K G O A U F B T P T K D Z
X A S V H Ā R F R U A G I Ā Z
I J I Ū M N G E N G E M R H J
M A K A R I R I W N M T A Ō B
P J U T U V O J S H U A H H T
HARIKOA MATEKAI
HIAINU MATEMOE
HIAKAI MATEWAI
MĀUIUI
HIAMOE
NGENGE
HIAWAI
ORA
HŌHĀ
PAI
MAKARIRI PUKURIRI
MATEINU WERA

Whanaungatanga
101
Relatedness
Below is a list of words that are missing the "tohutō" (macrons). Put the Tohutō in the right
place so that the words can be pronounced correctly.
Āa Ēe Īi Ōo Ūu
Plurals
matua teina
tuakana tuahine
tupuna wahine
Others
hoa tane whaiaipo ngoku
toku taku ngaku
oku aku woku

Kupu whakapapa
102
Genealogy words
Hei mahi:
Kupu whānau - Which of these words are used for females and which are used for males? Which
are used for both? Have a go at putting the words in the correct boxes below.
hunaonga koroua teina

matua kēkē tipuna taokete tuahine hoa wahine
irāmutu tungāne whaea tama mātua tuakana
tamariki mokopuna whaea kēkē hoa tane matua
tamaiti Kuia tamāhine kōtiro
Male Female Both (male & female)
If you need a little extra help have a look in your Puna kupu.

Whakapapa
103
Family Tree
whaea tipuna - grandmother matua tipuna - grandfather
whaea - mother matua - father
whaea kēkē - matua kēkē -

aunty uncle
tuakana - teina -
older sister hoa wahine - wife hoa tāne - husband younger sister
Pania Hone
tama - son tamāhine - daughter

irāmutu - niece irāmutu - nephew Piripi Marama
mokopuna - grandchild
1. Tokohia ngā tamariki a Pania rāua ko Hone?

Toko ngā tamariki a Pania rāua ko Hone.
2. Tokohia ngā tamariki a Piripi?

Toko ngā tamariki a Piripi.

Kupu Ingoa
104
Nouns
Write the correct Māori names of the pictures in the boxes provided.
Pictures and boxes are jumbled.

Ngā Wāhanga o te Whare
105
Parts of the house
Unscramble the words in the left column, then make a line joining the Māori word to the
english one:
1. ūrma hono (ruma noho) kitchen
2. maūr oem bedroom
3. aūrm oihro aitnna walls
4. rmūa rihoo ākhauk roof
5. iikhīn bathroom
6. ūram raotkā lounge
7. uatnui rumpus room
8. aapp floor
9. aitapkar laundry

He Kararehe
106
Animals
Write the correct Māori name for each animal in the boxes provided.
1 2 3
5 6
7
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9

Ngā Marama o te Tau
107
Months of the year
Fill in the missing spaces in the grid below:
Hānuere
Pepuere
Poutū-te-rangi
Paenga-whāwhā
Mei
Hune
Hūrae
Here-turi-kōkā
Oketopa
Whiringa-ā-rangi
Tīhema

108
Seasons of the year
Unscramble the following months of the year. They are written below to assist you:
eneHuār eaNom
ūHrea euPeper
īhTeam uHne
aukahĀt iMe
keOpota Mhāee
eHpeemta pĀerair
Hānuere Mei Hepetema

Pepuere Hune Oketopa
Māehe Hūrae Noema
Āperira Ākuhata Tīhema

Ngā Rā o te Wiki
109
Days of the week
The table has three columns that represent different ways of saying the "days of the week".
Fill in the missing spaces.
Monday Rāhina
Tūrei Rātū
Wednesday Raapa
Thursday Taite
Friday Paraire
Saturday Hātarei
Sunday Rātapu
Match the words with the correct numbers.
Tuatahi 3rd
Tuarua 9th
Tuatoru 4th
Tuawhā 1st
Tuarima 10th
Tuaono 2nd
Tuawhitu 7th
Tuawaru 5th
Tuaiwa 8th
Tuangahuru/Tekau 6th

Te ūpoko
110
He mahi:
Write the Māori kupu for the parts of the head and face in the blank spaces below.
- forehead
- hair
- face
- eyebrow
- eye
- eyeball
- nose
- mole/spot
- ear
- moustache
- cheek
- beard
- teeth
- chin
of this
ack jo
tb
ur
a
Answers
nal

Wāhi – Kei hea a Rāhui?
111
Where is Rāhui?
Hei mahi:
Now have a go at filling in the boxes with the answer to the question “Kei hea a Rāhui?” using the
pictures and the following sentence structure to assist you: “Kei ____ i te ____”.
We have done the first one for you.
Q. Kei hea a Rāhui? Q. Kei hea a Rāhui?

A. Kei muri i te pouaka A.

A. A.

of this
A. A. ack jo
tb
ur
a
Answers
nal

Kupu Wā
112
Words for time
Match the Māori word/s in the left column with the English equivalent in the right column:
Ākuanei Next week
Āpōpō Soon/Shortly
Ā tērā wiki The day after tomorrow
Ā tērā atu wiki The week after next
Ātahirā Tomorrow

Ngā Whakautu
113
Answers
Ingoa Wāhi
Auckland Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa
Hamilton Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Gisborne Waihōpai
New Plymouth Kirikiriroa
Wellington Tāmaki Makaurau
Christchurch Ōtepoti
Dunedin Ōtautahi
Invercargill Ngāmotu
Bluff Motupōhue

Aotearoa
114
Te Tai Tokerau
Kirikiriroa
Tāmaki Makaurau
Te Tai Rāwhiti
Te
Te Tai
Tai Hau-ā-uru
Hau-ā-uru
Ngāmotu
Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Ōtautahi
Ōtepoti
Te Tai Tonga
Motupōhue
Waihōpai

Kōrero Tūtaki
115
L F X F H Y R R Q Q H Ē M A I
N R D N P I Q R M Q I C A Z V
E B L O R U A P F L A W T W A
E J Q Z P J K M Y I K C E Q B
I A W E T A M U O Ō A B M V P
U N I A I H A T R E I X O R A
Ē G K Z I U M X E I N K E N Y
M V L A P A N J Y I R I P X C
R Ō W D T H X I U S O I A P K
Ā A H E O E Z I E A Z J O J I
I Y K G O A U F B T P T K D Z
X A S V H Ā R F R U A G I Ā Z
I J I Ū M N G E N G E M R H J
M A K A R I R I W N M T A Ō B
P J U T U V O J S H U A H H T
Whanaungatanga
Plurals Others
mātua hoa tane
tuākana tōku
tipuna ōku
teinā whaiāipo
tuāhine tāki
wāhine āku
ngōku
ngāku
wōku

Kupu whakapapa
116
Male Female Both (male & female)
koroua kuia tipuna
matua* whaea mātua
matua kēkē whaea kēkē hunaonga
tungāne tuahine tuakana
tama tamāhine irāmutu
hoa tane hoa wahine taokete
tamaiti kōtiro teina
Whakapapa
1. Tokohia ngā tamariki a Pania rāua ko Hone?

Tokorua ngā tamariki a Pania rāua ko Hone.
2. Tokohia ngā tamariki a Piripi?

Tokowhā ngā tamariki a Piripi
Kupu Ingoa
1. Taraka
2. Rūri*
3. Tēpu*
4. Wharepukapuka
5. Pene*
6. Wharepaku
7. Toa
8. Tāone
9. Hū
10. Motokā
11. Rorohiko
12. Tūru*
(An asterisk indicates that the word can be used in any four letter box)

Ngā wāhanga o te whare
117
1. Rūma noho = lounge
2. Rūma moe = bedroom
3. Rūma horoi tinana = bathroom
4. Rūma horoi kākahu = laundry
5. Kīhini = kitchen
6. Rūma tākaro = rumpus room
7. Tuanui = roof
8. Papa = floor
9. Pakitara = walls
He Kararehe
1. Ngeru
2. Pea
3. Poaka
4. Manu
5. Hipi
6. Kau
7. Kurī
8. Hōiho
9. Rāpeti
Ngā marama o te tau
Hānuere Noema
Hūrae Pepuere
Tihema Hune
Ākuhata Mei
Oketopa Māehe
Hepetema Āperira

118
eneHuār Hānuere eaNom Noema
ūHrea Hūrae euPeper Pepuere

īhTeam Tīhema uHne Hune
aukahĀt Ākuhata iMe Mei

keOpota Oketopa Mhāee Māehe
eHpeemta Hepetema pĀerair Āperira
Ngā rā o te wiki
1. Mane
2. Tuesday
3. Wednesday
4. Rāpare
5. Rāmere
6. Rāhoroi

Te Ūpoko
119
rae - forehead
makawe - hair
kanohi - face
tukemata - eyebrow
karu - eye
kamo - eyeball
ihu - nose
ira - mole/spot
taringa - ear
hurungutu - moustache
pāpāringa - cheek
pāhau - beard
niho - teeth
kauae - chin

Wāhi – Kei hea a Rāhui?
120

A. Kei muri i te pouaka Kei mua i te pouaka.
A.

A. Kei runga i te pouaka. A. Kei raro i te pouaka.

A. Kei roto i te pouaka. A. Kei te taha o te pouaka.
Kupu Wā
Ākuanei – next week

Āpōpō – tomorrow
Ā tērā wiki – next week
Ā tērā atu wiki – the week after next
Ātahirā – the day after tomorrow

Notes
121

Notes
122

Notes
123

Notes
124

Hē Pataka Reo

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Papa Reo

Section 1: Word Indexes

Section 2: Theme Pages

Section 3: Speeches, Greetings, Prayers, Songs & Dance

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Short sounds Long sounds

h, k, m, n, p, w are pronounced as they are in English.

r has a soft trill, a little like the Scottish ‘r’.

ng is pronounced like ‘ng’ in sing.

wh is a soft ‘f’ sound, like the ‘ph’ in phone.

n noun st.v stative or neuter verb

a adjective Waik. Waikato

pron pronoun Mat. Mātaatua

num number East. Eastern

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

16 mātāmua - eldest, first born mauritau (a) at ease or peace,absence of

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

pōtiki (a) - youngest puta noa – right throughout

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Papa Reo | He Pātaka Reo

Kirikiriroa | Hamilton Te Rotorua-nui-a-

Kawatiri | Westport RAUKAWA MOANA Te Whanganui-a-Tara