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Te Reo Māori Greetings

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Te Reo Māori Greetings

Read the language notes, then use them to interpret and create greetings for a new team meeting at a building site. Macrons matter: they mark long vowels. Answers may vary where more than one suitable greeting is possible.

Language notes

Tēnā koe = greetings/hello to one person. For two people, use Tēnā followed by the Māori pronoun for “you two.” Tēnā koutou = greetings to three or more people. Kia ora is a widely used, friendly greeting; it can also mean thank you or express wellbeing, depending on context. E noho rā is said by someone leaving to people who stay. Haere rā is said to people who are leaving. Kei te pēhea koe? = How are you? Kei te pai ahau = I am well. Ko [name] ahau = I am [name]. Nō [place] ahau = I am from [place].

Read the situation

Ana arrives at a building site for a team briefing. Tane and Mere are waiting at the entrance. Ana smiles and greets the two people, then asks how they are. Tane replies, “Kei te pai māua, kia ora.” Mere introduces a new colleague, Hemi, who has just arrived. Ana turns to the three colleagues and says, “Tēnā koutou, Hemi. Ko Ana ahau. Nō Kirikiriroa ahau.” At the end of the visit, Ana leaves while the others stay. Mere says, “Haere rā, Ana!” Ana replies, “E noho rā!”

1.Ana first greets Tane and Mere. Which greeting fits the number of people she is addressing?

Tēnā koe
Tēnā kōrua
Tēnā koutou
E noho rā

2.In the first exchange, what does “Kei te pēhea kōrua?” ask?

3.Tane replies, “Kei te pai māua.” What does māua indicate here?

Tane and Mere; the speaker and another person, excluding the person spoken to
Tane, Mere, and Ana
One person, the speaker only
A group including everyone present

4.Match each phrase to its best meaning.

Ko Ana ahau
Nō Kirikiriroa ahau
Haere rā
E noho rā

Said to someone who is leaving
I am Ana
Said by someone leaving to those who stay
I am from Hamilton

5.In the story, who says “Haere rā,” and who is it addressed to? Explain how the reply confirms the situation.

6.Hemi, Ana, Tane, and Mere are together. Write a suitable greeting Ana could use to address the other three people. Include macrons.

7.True or false: “Kia ora” is used only to greet one person and cannot be used to say thank you.

TrueFalse

8.Complete the introduction using the notes: “Ko ahau. Nō ahau.” Use the name Tane and the place Ōtautahi.

9.A visitor arrives and greets Ana alone. Write the appropriate greeting, then write one suitable question asking how Ana is.

10.Write a short, respectful exchange (at least three lines) for meeting a new colleague at the site. Include a greeting, an introduction, where one person is from, and a reply. Use Te Reo Māori phrases from the notes; you may use the names Ana and Tane and choose a place.