Māori Language Week 2010
This year's theme is Manaakitanga Hospitality.
Have a look at the Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Mäori site for more in formation Here | 
Here's a little test - Kai for tina
click view slide show
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Preserving our reo here - click view slide show |
Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu
Although it is small, it is precious
Even if you only know few words of Mäori they are still precious.
Körero ia rä, ia rä, ia rä
Speak them everyday | He kapu tī māu? – do you want a cup of tea?
Ae, he kapu tī maku – yes I want a cup of tea. |
Coffee – kāwhe
Sugar – huka
Milk - miraka
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| Here are very simple examples of basic speeches and greetings. It is important that you talk to people from your own area to understand the different dialects, words and customs for your own region. |
Mihi or mihimihi | speech | | Whaikōrero | making speeches | | Mihi whakatau | speeches of welcome (less formal welcome than a powhiri) | | Pōwhiri | more formal type of welcome (usually includes some or all of the following protocols - karanga, formal speeches from tangata whenua and manuhiri, karakia, hongi hariru and kai whakanoa) | | Karakia, inoi | Prayer | | Waiata | Song | | Whakatauki | Proverb or saying sometimes used to begin a speech | | Tauparapara | Chant, verse to start a speech | | Poroporoakī | Farewell |
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You can use these in verbal speeches or in e mails, letters or memos | Tēnā koe | greeting to one person (formal) | | Tēnā kōrua | greeting to two people (formal) | | Tēnā koutou | greeting to three or more people (formal) | | Kia ora | hello (informal), actual meaning is may you be well | | Kia ora kōrua | Hello to two people (informal) | | Kia or Koutou Kia ora Koutou Katoa | hello to three or more people (informal)Hello to you all | | He mihi nui kia koe | Warm greeting to you (one person) | | Ngā mihi nui kia kōrua | Warm greeting to you two | | Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa | Warm greetings to you all | | E ngā mātāwaka o te motu, tēnā koutou katoa | All groups throughout the land, greetings | | E ngā mana, e ngā reo e ngā karangarangatanga maha, tēnā koutou | All authorjties, all voices, all the many alliances and affiliations, greetings |
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Often you will hear a speaker repeat a phrase three times for example tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. This is done to emphasis the greeting or acknowledgement.
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You can use these in verbal speeches or in e mails, letters or memos - Kāti ake i konei
- Ka nui (pea) tēnei
- Heoi ano | Enough said.
All can be used to signify you have said enough and will finish your message | | (Nō reira) , Noho ora mai rā | (therefore), look after yourself | | Goodbye for now | Hei kona mai | | Goodbye and thank you | - Hei kona mai i roto i ngā mihi
- Hei kona mai me ngā mihi | | Many thanks | Aku mihi nui ki a koe | | Until I hear from you again | Kia rongo kōrero anō au i a koe | | Let me know your response | Māu mea rā tiaki i a koe |
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| Ending a letter (or an e mail) | |
| Yours faithfully | Nāku, nā (one person signing) | | Yours sincerely | Nāku noa, nā (one person signing) | | | Nā māua noa, nā (two people signing | | | Nā mātou noa, nā (more than two people signing | | Yours sincerely/humbly | Nāku iti nei, nā | | Yours with thanks | Nāku i runga i aku mihi ki a koe |
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Mihi for starting a meeting | |
Note: Use “koe for one person”, “kōrua for two people ” or “koutou for more than two people” E ngā iwi i huihui nei,
Nau mai, haere mai ki tēnei hui
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou | To all people here today
Welcome, welcome to this meeting
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all | Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa
Nau mai, haere mai ki tēnei hui | Warm greetings to you all
Welcome to this meeting |
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At more formal occasions it is usual to add different dimensions to your speech. This could include some or all of the following:
· An acknowledgement to God and or a karakia
· A tauparapara or whakatauki to start the speech
· Acknowledgement to those who are deceased
· Acknowledgements to the meeting house, mountains and rivers
· Acknowledgements to all people represented
· Acknowledgements to the reason why the meeting is being held
· Your whakapapa or information about who you are
· Concluding remarks
It would be appropriate for you to seek guidance from someone in your area or attend classes to learn about these aspects of making speeches. Following are some simple examples.
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| Mihi at a formal pōwhiri if you are with the tangata whenua (home people) | |
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e rau rangatira mā
Tēnā, koutou katoa
E ngā mate, haere, haere, haere atu rā
E ngā iwi i huihui nei, tēnā koutou
E ngā manuhiri, nau mai haere mai ki tēnei hui
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa | To all authorities, all languages and all chiefly people represented here, Greetings to you all
To those who have passed on farewell,
To all people gathered here today, greetings
To the visitors, welcome to this gathering
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all | Ko (insert your name) tōku ingoa
Nō (insert the name of the place where you come from) ahau | My name is (insert your name)
I come from (insert the place you come from) | | Make your speech in English then conclude with the following | No reira,
Note: you may also want to include a whakatauki here that supports your speech, then conclude with
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa | Therefore,
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all.When used at the end of a speech tēnā koutou also means I acknowledge you all. |
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| Mihi at a formal powhiri – if you are with the manuhiri (the visitors) | |
Use if going onto a marae
Te whare e tu nei tēnā koe
Te marae ki waho nei tēnā koe
E ngā mate haere haere haere atu rā
E ngā iwi i huihui nei
Tēnā koutou tēnā koutou tēnā koutou katoa |
To the house that stand here, greetings
To the marae that lies outside, greetings
To those who have passed on farewell
To all peple gathered here
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all | Ko (insert your name) tōku ingoa
Nō (insert the name of the place where you come from) | My name is (insert your name)
I come from (insert the place you come from) | | Make your speech in English then conclude with the following | No reira,
(Note: you may also want to include a whakatauki here that supports your speech, then conclude with)
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa | Therefore,
Greetings, greetings, greetings to you all.When used at the end of a speech tēnā koutou also means I acknowledge you all. |
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| If you wish to use a tauparapara to begin your speech you should talk to people in your area or attend classes to see what is appropriate for you to use, there are some that should only be used for certain occasions. The tauparapara is usually followed by the words ‘tihei mauriora’ – behold the brief of life (signifying that the speaker is about to make his speech). Some people will just say ‘tihei mauriora’ which signifies they are about to stand to make their speech. |
Note: this is a simple opening karakia that asks the Atua for their support and assistance to help people get their work done. E te Atua
Manaakitia tēnei hui
Awhinatia mātou i roto i o mātou mahi
Ko tō Wairua Tapu tō mātou Ariki
Amene | Lord
Support us at this meeting
Guide us in the work we are doing
Through your spirit
Amen | E te Atua
Manaakitia tēnei hui
Awhinatia mātou i roto i o mātou mahi
Amene | Lord
Bless this meeting
Support us in the work we are doing
Amen |
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Note: this is a simple closing karakia that thanks the Atua for their support and assistance in helping people do their work. E te Atua
E whakawhetai ana mātou mo ōu manaakitanga i tēnei hui
Awhinatia mātou i tēnei rā
Ko tō Wairua Tapu tō mātou Ariki
Amene | Lord
Thank you for your support and guidance during this meeting.
Care for us this day
Through your spirit
Amen | E te Atua
E whakawhetai ana mātou mo ōu manaakitanga i tēnei hui
Awhinatia mātou i tēnei rā.
Amene | Lord
Thank you for your support and guidance during this meeting.
Care for us this day.
Amen |
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E Te Atua
Whakapaingia ēnei kai
Hei oranga mō mātou tinana
Ko tō Wairua Tapu, tō mātou Ariki
Amene | Lord
Bless this food
For the wellbeing of our bodies
Through your spirit
Amen | E Te Atua
Whakapaingia ēnei kai
Hei oranga mō mātou tinana
Amene | Lord
Bless this food
For the wellbeing of our bodies
Amen |
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Page last updated 20 Feb 2012
