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Te Reo Māori Greetings

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Te Reo Māori Greetings

Read the guide and use its context clues to choose greetings that suit the time, audience and direction of a farewell. Macrons matter: they mark long vowels. Answers to open questions may vary; model answers are provided.

Quick reference: choose for the situation

These are useful common forms. The relationship, setting and local practice can also shape how people greet one another.

Situation

Useful expression

Context / meaning

Greeting one person

Tēnā koe

A respectful greeting to one person

Greeting two people

Tēnā kōrua

A greeting to two people

Greeting a group of three or more

Tēnā koutou

A greeting to a group

Flexible everyday greeting

Kia ora

Commonly used as hello; can also express thanks or acknowledge wellbeing

Morning greeting

Mōrena / Ata mārie

Common morning greetings

Farewell to someone who is staying, when you are leaving

E noho rā

Farewell addressed to the person staying

Farewell to someone who is leaving, when you are staying

Haere rā

Farewell addressed to the person leaving

Parting with the intention of meeting again

Ka kite anō

See you again

The welcome desk scenario

Kahu is helping welcome visitors to a community arts event in Aotearoa. At 9 a.m., she greets one guest with “Mōrena, e hoa.” Later, she welcomes two visiting speakers with a respectful greeting for two people. She thanks a volunteer who has brought kai by saying “Kia ora.” At the end of the evening, Kahu is staying to tidy up while a guest heads home. She says “Haere rā” to the guest. The guest replies, “Ka kite anō.” The phrases are selected for audience and situation, rather than translated word for word from English.

1.Kahu is greeting one guest in the morning. Which phrase from the scenario signals the time of day?

2.Choose the greeting that best fits Kahu welcoming the two visiting speakers.

Tēnā koe
Tēnā kōrua
Tēnā koutou
E noho rā

3.Complete the statement: Kahu says “Haere rā” because she is and the guest is .

4.Match each expression with its most suitable meaning or use.

Tēnā koutou
Kia ora
E noho rā
Ka kite anō

Flexible greeting; can also express thanks
See you again
Greeting a group of three or more
Farewell said to someone who is staying

5.A volunteer brings kai to the event. Give one appropriate phrase from the guide and explain why it fits this moment.

6.Kahu is staying behind, and two guests are leaving. Write a suitable farewell to address both guests. Use the audience information as well as the farewell direction.

7.Explain the difference in direction between “E noho rā” and “Haere rā”.

8.True or false: “Kia ora” is only used as a greeting and cannot be used to express thanks.

TrueFalse

9.Add the macrons to make this morning greeting correctly written: “Ata marie.”

10.A guest says “Ka kite anō” while leaving. Write a natural response using one expression from the guide, and explain why it is suitable.