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Te Reo Greetings Challenge

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Te Reo Greetings Challenge

Read the greeting guide, then use the clues in each question. Match the greeting to the people and situation. Remember: greetings can vary by context, relationship and local tikanga. When unsure, listen to your kaiako or host.

A quick greeting guide

Kia ora is a friendly greeting or expression of thanks. Mōrena is a morning greeting. Tēnā koe addresses one person; tēnā kōrua addresses two; tēnā koutou addresses three or more. Haere mai welcomes someone arriving. Haere rā is said to someone who is leaving. E noho rā is said by someone leaving to a person or group who is staying. Hei konā is a way to say goodbye. A hongi is a traditional greeting involving the gentle touching of noses, sometimes with foreheads; follow the host’s lead, and do not assume it is expected.

Read the moment

At a morning community gathering, Hana is welcoming visitors. She greets one visitor, Wiremu, with “Mōrena, e Wiremu.” More visitors arrive, and Hana says, “Haere mai, koutou.” Later, Hana is leaving while the visitors are staying. She says a farewell to those who remain, and they respond with a farewell to someone departing.

Choose, match and explain

Use the guide and the short scene to solve each challenge.

1.Match each situation to the most suitable greeting or farewell from the guide. Situations: (a) greet one person in the morning; (b) welcome a group arriving; (c) you are leaving while your friends stay; (d) your friends are leaving while you stay.

(a) One person, morning
(b) A group arrives
(c) You leave; friends stay
(d) Friends leave; you stay

E noho rā
Mōrena
Haere mai
Haere rā

2.Hana says “Mōrena, e Wiremu” in the scene. Who is she greeting, and what clue tells you it is a morning greeting?

3.Hana says “Haere mai, koutou” to the arriving visitors. What does haere mai communicate here?

A welcome to people arriving
A farewell to people leaving
A greeting to exactly one person
A thank-you

4.Choose the correct phrase for greeting three or more visitors: “Tēnā ___.”

koe
kōrua
koutou
rā

5.True or false: In the scene, Hana uses the farewell said by someone leaving to people who stay, and the visitors respond with the farewell said to someone who is leaving.

TrueFalse

6.Complete the two phrases: “Tēnā ” addresses one person; “Tēnā ” addresses two people.

7.You meet a friend at lunchtime. Write one suitable friendly greeting from the guide. There may be more than one appropriate answer.

8.A visitor is leaving while you are staying. Write a suitable farewell you could say to the visitor.

9.A hongi may be part of a greeting in some contexts. What is a respectful thing to do if you are unsure whether it is expected?

Follow the host’s lead and ask your kaiako or host if unsure
Assume everyone must take part
Insist that everyone uses the same greeting
Avoid greeting anyone

10.Write a two-line mini-dialogue for a morning welcome to two arriving visitors. Include a suitable greeting for the time of day and a welcome. Use te reo Māori phrases from the guide.