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ALL NEW ZEALANDERS NEED TO KNOW THESE
Basic phrases
Māori language is fun and easy to use in social settings. Here are some simple phrases to use on such occasions. Most of these phrases have a Ngā Puhi / Far North flavour, and we have provided others used by other iwi too.
Kua kai anō koe?
Have you had something to eat?
He aha māu?
What would you like?
He wai ārani māku.
I would like an orange juice.
He wai reka māku.
I would like a soft drink.
He wai noa iho māku.
Just water for me.
He aha tō mahi?
What do you do for a job?
Kei hea koe e mahi ana?
Where do you work?
He kaimahi ahau nā (place of work)
I work at (place of work)
Nō konei anō koe?
Nō konei tonu koe?
Nō konei ake koe?
Are you from around here?
Ae, nō konei anō.
Ae, nō konei tonu.
Ae, nō konei ake au.
Yes, I'm from here.
Ehara au nō konei.
No, I'm not from here.
He aha ō mahi i tēnei rā?
What did you do today?
I pēhea tō rā?
How was your day?
Piro rawa atu!
It sucked!
Pai mārika taku rā!
I had a great day!
E aha ana koe ā te pō?
Kei te aha koe ā te pō?
What are you doing tonight?
Hei aha māu?
What's it to you?
Kāhore kau.
He kore noa iho.
Nothing.
He aha ai?
Why?
E mate kai ana koe?
Are you hungry?
Ka rawe!
Tino pai kē!
Too much!
Te pai hoki o tō hanga.
Tō ātaahua hoki rā.
You look good.
Ka nui tēnā māku.
Kua ora au.
That's enough for me.
I've had enough.
He aha te waiata pai ki a koe?
He aha ngā puoro pai ki a koe?
What kind of music do you like?
Kei ēnā tikanga hoki.
Tō hātakēhi hoki.
Hey, you're a bit dodgy.
You are hard case.
Me āta inu koe.
Go easy on the drinking.
E āta inu ana au.
I'm just taking it easy (i.e. drinking).
Ka rawe te kōrero Māori.
Gee speaking Maori is good fun.
Ka rawe.
Choice, awesome.
Ehara mai!
Ka mau te wehi!
Awesome!
He aha pea he mahi mā tāua?
Shall we do something?
Kua haere au.
Okay, I'm off.
Ka kite anō.
See you again.
The marae
Hui a meeting of any kind, conference, gathering
Marae the area for formal discourse in front of a meeting house or applied to a whole marae complex, including meeting house, dining hall, forecourt, etc.
Haere mai! Welcome! Enter!
Nau mai! Welcome!
Tangihanga funeral ceremonies, when body is mourned on a marae
Tangi short (verbal version) for the above (gerund) or to cry, to mourn
Karanga the ceremony of calling to the guests to welcome them to enter the marae
Manuhiri guests, visitors
Tangata whenua original people belonging to a place, local people, hosts
Whaikōrero the art and practise of speech making
Kaikōrero or kaiwhai kōrero speaker (there are many other terms)
Haka chant with dance for the purpose of challenge; (see other references to haka on this site)
Waiata song or chant which follows speech
Koha gift, present (usually money, can be food or precious items, given by guest to hosts)
Whare nui meeting house; in writing this is sometimes run together as one word – wharenui
Whare whakairo carved meeting house
Whare kai dining hall
Whare paku lavatory, toilet
Whare horoi ablution block, bathroom
Concepts
Aroha compassion, tenderness, sustaining love
Ihi power, authority, essential force
Mana authority, power; secondary meaning: reputation, influence
Manaakitanga respect for hosts or kindness to guests, to entertain, to look after
Mauri hidden essential life force or a symbol of this
Noa safe from tapu (see below), non-sacred, not tabooed
Raupatu confiscate, take by force
Rohe boundary, a territory (either geographical or spiritual) of an iwi or hapū
Taihoa to delay, to wait, to hold off to allow maturation of plans, etc.
Tapu sacred, not to be touched, to be avoided because sacred, taboo
Tiaki to care for, look after, guard (kaitiaki – guardian, trustee)
Taonga treasured possessions or cultural items, anything precious
Tino rangatiratanga the highest possible independent chiefly authority, paramount authority, sometimes used for sovereignty
Tūrangawaewae a place to stand, a place to belong to, a seat or location of identity
Wehi to be held in awe
Whakapapa genealogy, to recite genealogy, to establish kin connections
Whenua land, homeland, country; also afterbirth, placenta
People and their groups
Ariki person of high inherited rank from senior lines of descent, male or female
Hapū clan, tribe, independent section of a people; modern usage – sub-tribe; to be born
Iwi people, nation; modern usage – tribe; bones
Kaumātua elder or elders, senior people in a kin group
Ngāi Tātou a way of referring to everyone present – we all
Pākehā this word is not an insult; its derivation is obscure; it is the Māori word for people living in New Zealand of British/European origin; originally it would not have included, for example, Dalmatians, Italians, Greeks, Indians, Chinese, etc.
Rangatira person of chiefly rank, boss, owner
Tama son, young man, youth
Tamāhine daughter
Tamaiti one child
Tamariki children
Tāne man, husband, men, husbands
Teina/taina junior relative, younger brother of a brother, younger sister of a sister
Tipuna/tupuna ancestor
Tuahine sister of a man
Tuakana senior relative, older brother of a brother, older sister of a sister
Tungāne brother of a sister
Wahine woman, wife (wāhine women, wives)
Waka canoe, canoe group (all the iwi and hapū descended from the crew of a founding waka)
Whāngai fostered or adopted child, young person
Whānau extended or non-nuclear family
Whanaunga kin, relatives
Kīanga tīmatanga
Love, wishes, get well
Ko te wawata kua ora ake koe
Hope you are feeling better
Tino koa ana i te rongo pai kua hau mai
Thrilled with your news
Me te whakaaro nui
With kind thoughts
Nga mihi nui
With best wishes
Nga mihi nui ki a korua tahi
With best wishes to you both 
Ma te Atua e manaaki
God bless
Ma te Atua koe e manaakiGod is watching over you
Kia kaha
Be strong
Kia pai te haere
Best wishes for a happy trip
Haere pai atu, hoki pai mai
Travel safely
Haere pai atu, hoki pai mai
Have a wonderful trip
Tena rawa atu koe
Thank you
Tena rawa atu koe
Many thanks
Tena koe i o manaakitanga mai
Tena korua i a korua manaakitanga mai
Tena koutou i a koutou manaakitanga mai
Thank you for your hospitality
Me te mihi nui
In appreciation
Me te mihi nui mo o manaakitanga
Me te mihi nui mo a korua manaakitanga
Me te mihi nui mo a koutou manaakitanga
In appreciation of your kindness
Nau mai ki te wa kainga
Welcome home
Hoki mai ki te wa kainga
Welcome home
Birthday
Nga mihi ra i to ra whanau, e te tau
Happy Birthday, love
Wishing you a very happy birthday
Nga mihi nui i to ra whanau
Wishing you many happy returns of the day
Nga mihi nui me te aroha nui i to ra whanau Birthday greetings and love With love and best wishes for a Happy Birthday
Congratulations
Nga mihi nui ki a korua, na (ingoa)
Congratulations and best wishes to you both, from (name)
Nga mihi nui me te aroha, na (ingoa)
Congratulations and love from (name)
Nga mihi nui me te aroha nui
Congratulations and best wishes
Tena ra korua i roto i nga mihi me te aroha nui Congratulations and love to you both
Love From
Me te aroha nui ki a korua/koutou katoa
Lots of love to you both/you all
Me te aroha nui o Papa
Love from Dad
Me te aroha nui o Papa raua ko Mama
Love from Mum and Dad
Me te aroha nui o Mama
Love from Mum
Me te aroha atu o te katoa i te kainga nei Love from all at home
Common Expressions