
If you visit a marae, your hosts may also take time to teach you some of their local waiata. Speakers from each side of the interaction (hosts and guests) will take turns addressing the group, with each speech followed by a waiata. Waiata is a key part of visiting a marae. If you are invited to visit a marae, your host should guide you through the process. Visiting a marae is a great way to learn more about Māori culture and beliefs, and there are a number of protocols to observe. That complex includes a meeting house, a dining hall, a forecourt and possibly some other buildings, as well. While this term officially refers to the outdoor space in front of a Māori meeting house, where leaders of a group or tribe will discuss important matters, marae has come to be used as a catch-all term for the large complex that surrounds these important Māori spaces. Meaning: The area outside a Māori meeting house, used for formal discussions.“I scored the winning try at rugby this morning.” “Tu meke cuz, that’s awesome!”.“I brought you a coffee, you looked like you needed it.” “Ah, tu meke!”.Interchangeable with its English equivalent, “too much,” tu meke is used to show gratitude, appreciation and awe. You won’t find this one in the Māori Dictionary, but many Kiwis use it in their everyday lives. Meaning: Literally “too much,” this phrase is used to say thank you or show you’re impressed.Be aware that this phrase invokes pre-battle war songs and, of course, those most mythical of Kiwis, the All Blacks.Įxample: “I’ve got to get this homework done by tomorrow.” “Kia kaha mate, you’ll get it done.” 4. Used to encourage others, this is one of those emotive Māori phrases you can comfortably use in Māori, but might not get away with so easily in English.

Either way, make sure you sound out the TE-sound at the end of kite. Ka kite anōĪ friendly, informal way to say goodbye to someone you will see again, and sometimes shortened to just ka kite. For example, “We really need to get this project finished by the end of the month.” “Kia ora.” 2. Kia ora can also be used as an interjection if you agree with what someone is saying.

Something that sets New Zealand English apart from other versions of the Queen’s parlance is its inclusion of a vast number of Māori loan words.
