New Zealand Literature and Language

"Kei hea taku" is a phrase in the Māori language that translates to "where is my" in English. It is used when asking about the location of something or someone.

The Maori word for grandchildren is mokopuna.

'Ki waho' means outside in Maori.

The number 77 in Maori is "whitu tekau ma whitu."

"Wananga O Te Ka pai E Kotiro" is a Māori phrase that roughly translates to "the place where great things happen, girl."

Waha is the Maori word for mouth.

"Ihu" means "nose" in Māori, which is the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand. It is a significant body part representing a person's connection to their ancestors and environment in Māori culture.

Sunday in Maori is called "Rātapu."

The purpose of a moko was to set apart one as being of a certain age or experience. Usually reserved for those who may have completed feats of considerable value for the whanau, hapu or iwi, moko are like qualifications telling you of where you get your authority (which comes from whakapapa or hitori) which are in the moko.

For non-maori to have a moko usually means that those non-maori have performed feats of considerable value for the whanau, hapu or iwi and since being a tohu (or artform with Maori roots) implies that the feats were done for Maori whanau, hapu and iwi.

If this is the case, then nonmaori will usually have it done by those who have considerable stance in the whanau, hapu and iwi and also be supported by those who have considerable stance in the whanau, hapu and iwi.

If this is not the case and the nonmaori has gone to the local tattoo parlour with a young fledging artist of Maori descent, then you might be considered a red-ochre chief, with all the dress and signs of one deserving a moko, yet not entitled to it.

Anyone can print off a passport with the right gear, but unless it has the authority behind it, it is considered a serious crime and an insult to the authority that is the New Zealand Government. Would it be any less (because it is a Maori artform) of an insult if someone did a moko without the authority let alone the permission from the owners of that artform, let alone a good enough reason?

By the way, moko is also short for mokopuna which is grandchild. Anybody, maori or nonmaori, is entitled to plenty of these!

1000 in Maori is "ngā mano".

Toru tekau ma tahi.

Aotearoa- meaning Land of the Long white cloud.

Nothing really happened to the Maori people of Aotearoa. Although there are few of us and our language has dwindled down dramatically in the past 200 years, there still a lot of people who speak Maori. The numbers of maori people living in New Zealand have increased from 2001.

Kia ora, It means literally "be well/healthy" but is usually translated and used as an informal "hi"

To say your age in Maori, you would use the word "tau." For example, to say "I am 30 years old," you would say "Kei te toru tekau tau ahau."

Tamaki Makau Rau means Auckland.

In Māori, -6 is "ono minus ono" which translates to "six minus six".

"Kei Whangarei toku kainga noho" means:

Whangarei is where I live.

"mane" = "monday"

"Te wa" means "the time" in Māori, referring to a specific point in time or a period.

Have a nice day in Maori is "whakarongotia tō rangimārie."

Whitinga o te raa.

In Maori, "everyone" can be translated as "katoa."

"Kōwhiri" in Maori means "to choose" or "to select." It is often used in the context of making a decision or selecting something from multiple options.

"Pakipaki" in Maori means "clap." It is often used as an instruction to applaud or to clap one's hands as a sign of appreciation or approval.