Te Reo Māori resources for teachers

Waiata – Song

Alphabet songs

Practice your pronunciation with these two alphabet songs.

A ha ka ma na

a ha ka ma na pa ra ta wa nga wha,
e he ke me ne pe re te we nge whe,
i hi ki mi ni pi ri ti wi ngi whi,
o ho ko mo no po ro to wo ngo who,
Ā Ē Ī Ō Ū
u hu ku mu nu pu ru tu wu ngu whu.

Listen to the tune >>

Te Waka Pū Māori – An Alphabet Song

a e – a e i o u – te reo Māori – a e – a e i o u
ha he – ha he hi ho hu – te reo Māori
ka ke – ka ke ki ko ku
ma me – ma me mi mo mu – te reo Māori
na ne – na ne ni no nu
pa pe – pa pe pi po pu – te reo Māori
ra re – ra re ri ro ru
ta te – ta te ti to tu – te reo Māori
wa we – wa we wi wo wu
nga nge – nga nge ngi ngo ngu – te reo Māori
wha whe – wha whe whi who whu

E Minaka Ana

Kia kaha tātou
Ki te (HI!) kōrero Māori!

E minaka ana taku waha
Ki te kai a te rangatira,
Taku reo rangatira
Taku kuru pounamu tuku iho.
Mīharo kē ana
Ki tōna pakari kia ora
Tē memeha, te wairua
Ki te kōrero Māori.
Kia kaha tātou
Ki te kōrero Māori!

Let us be staunch
in speaking Māori!

I desire that
my talk be like that of a leader,
my noble language
my precious inheritance.

Astound me
with your maturity by
the evanescence, the spirit you show
when speaking Māori.

Let us be staunch
in speaking Māori!

Listen to the tune >>

Ehara i te mea

Ehara i te mea
Nō nāianei te aroha
Nō nga tūpuna
Tuku iho, tuku iho.
Te whenua, te whenua
Te oranga o te iwi
Nō nga tūpuna
Tuku iho, tuku iho.
Whakapono, tūmanako
Te aroha te aroha;
Nō nga tūpuna
Tuku iho, tuku iho.

It is not as if love is a new thing
It comes from the ancestors
Handed down through the passages of time

The land, the land is life for the people
It comes from the ancestors
Handed down through the passages of time

Faith and hope
Love to the people
Comes from the ancestors
Handed down through the passages of time

Listen to the tune >>

E Pā tō hau

E pā tō hau he wini raro
He homai aroha
Kia tangi atu au i konei
He aroha ki te iwi
Ka momotu ki tāwhiti
Ki Paerau
Ko wai e kite atu
Kei whea aku hoa i mua rā
I te tōnuitanga
Ka haramai
Tēnei ka tauwehe
Ka raungaiti au e.

The wind from the north touches me,
bringing loving memories
so that I mourn
in sorrow for my kin
lost to me in the world of spirits.

Where are they now?
Where are those friends of former days
who once lived in prosperity?
The time of separation has come,
Leaving me desolate.

Listen to the tune >>

E toru ngā mea

E toru ngā mea
Ngā mea nunui
E kī ana te paipera
Whakapono
Tumanako
Ko te mea nui
Ko te aroha

There are three things
Three great things
As purported in the Bible

Faith
Hope
But the greatest of these
Is love

Listen to the tune >>

He hōnore

He hōnore
He korōria
Maungārongo ki te whenua
Whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa
Ake, Ake, Ake, Āmine
Te atua te piringa
Tōku oranga, tōku oranga. 3

Honour and glory
Peace to all on the land
Goodwill to everyone
Forever and ever
Let it be so. 5

To the Highest,
the one who keeps me close,
the one who is good for me
Let it be so. 6

Listen to the tune >>

Hutia te rito

Hutia te rito, hutia te rito o te harakeke
Kei hea te komako e kō?
Kī mai ki ahau, he aha te mea nui, he aha te mea nui o te Ao?
Māku e kī atu
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata, hei!

If you pluck the heart from the flax bush (which will then die), where will the bellbird perch?
What is the most important thing in this world?
I tell you, it is people, people, people!

Nā, Mana Tepana

Ko te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

Ko te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
e tū mai nei
Ko te Tangata te tohu
Tīhei mauri ora!

Waikato te iwi;
Waikato te awa;
Taupiri te maunga;
Tainui te waka

Ko Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
e tū mai nei

Ko te tino kaupapa he hora mātauranga
ki te ao, Kōkiri!

Ngā whakamoemiti

Ngā whakamoemiti
Whakawhetai e Ihu e
Mō āu manaakitanga
Ki te iwi e tau nei
Ko koe te piringa
Ka puta ki te oranga
E te Ariki Paimārie.

Our many thanks
To you Lord
For all thy blessings
On those gathered here
You are the one that will bring us together and show us a better life
Lord, everlasting peace.

Listen to the tune >>

Mā wai rā

Mā wai rā e taurima te marae i waho nei?
Mā te tika
Mā te pono
me te aroha e.

Who will take responsibility
on the marae now?
Through the correct way
Through truth and
Through love (it will be done).

Nā Henare Te Owai i tito
Te Aitanga a Mate me Te Whānau Rakairoa

Listen to the tune >>

Purea Nei

Purea nei e te hau
Horoia e te ua
Whitiwhitia e te rā
Mahea ake ngā pōraruraru
Makere ana ngā here.

E rere wairua, e rere
Ki ngā ao o te rangi
Whitiwhitia e te rā
Mahea ake ngā pōraruraru
Makere ana ngā here,
Makere ana ngā here.

Scattered by the wind
washed by the rain
and transformed by the sun,
all doubts are swept away
and all restraints are cast down.

Fly o free spirit, fly
to the clouds in the heavens,
transformed by the sun,
with all doubts swept away
and all restraints cast down.
Yes, all restraints are cast down.

Nā Hirini Melbourne i tito (Composed by Hirini Melbourne)

Te Aroha

Te Aroha
Te Whakapono
Me te rangimārie
Tātou, tātou e.

(ano – repeat)

Love
Faith
Peace
For us all

Listen to the tune >>

Te Kohinga Mārama

Te Kohinga Mārama e karanga ki te iwi e
Kua eke mai nei ki runga i te marae nei
Mauria mai rā ngā mate o te motu e
Me ngā tini roimata e maringi whānui e

Titiro e ngā iwi ki ngā mahi o te motu
E hora ake nei e
Rū ana te whenua whatiwhati te moana
Auē te aroha te mamae i ahau e

(ano – repeat)

Auē te aroha te mamae i ahau e
Rū ana te whenua whatiwhati Hī!

Wairua tapu

Wairua tapu tau mai rā
Wairua tapu mai runga
Uhia mai ngā taonga pai
Homai tō aroha.

Wāhia, kia tika
Akona mai rā
Kia ū ki te pai.

Horoia, kia mau tonu rā
Mōhou te tino kororia.

Alight holy spirit/come to rest
holy spirit from above
cover all we hold dear,
give us your love.

Lay us down (as firewood), so all is right
teaching us to hold firmly to the right.

Wash/clean us so that we hold to,
yours is the true glory.

Whakaaria mai

Whakaaria mai tōu rīpeka ki a au
Tiaho mai, ra roto i te pō
Hei kona au, titiro atu ai
Ora, mate, hei a au koe noho ai

Show your cross to me
Let it shine
there in the darkness
To there I
will be looking
In life, in death,
let me rest in thee.

NOTE: Sing these words twice; first to the tune of the verse of ‘How Great Thou Art’, then to the tune of its chorus. At a mixed Pākehā/Māori gathering, you may want to sing the verse in English, then the chorus in Māori, for example:
Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Whakaaria mai tōu rīpeka ki a au
Tiaho mai, ra roto i te pō
Hei kona au, titiro atu ai
Ora, mate, hei a au koe noho ai

Listen to the tune >>

Whakataurangi ake

Whakataurangi ake te here, i tāku ate
Pupū ake nei, te mauri, o te aroha.
Hei hononga ki te iwi
Kua whakangaro ki te pō
Te pō uriuri, ki te pō i oti atu.
Kei ngā whakaoati i herea ki te rangi
Hei huarahi atu
Tīhei Mauriora!

Listen to the tune >>

Karakia – Prayer Affirmation

This karakia can be used to start a class or hui.

Whakataka te Hau

Whakataka te hau ki te uru,
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga
Kia mākinakina ki uta
Kia mātaratara ki tai
E hī ake ana te atakura,
He tio, he huka, he hauhunga,
Tīhei Mauriora.

Cease the winds from the west
Cease the winds from the south
Let the breeze blow over the land
Let the breeze blow over the ocean
Let the red-tipped dawn come with a sharpened air.
A touch of frost, a promise of a glorious day.

This karakia can be used to start a class or hui.

He hōnore

He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua He maungārongo ki te whenua
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa
Hangā e te Atua he ngākau hou
Ki roto, ki tēnā, ki tēnā o mātou
Whakatōngia to wairua tapu
Hei awhina, hei tohutohu i a mātou
Hei ako hoki i ngā mahi mō tēnei rā
Amine

Honour and glory to God
Peace on Earth
Goodwill to all people
Lord, develop a new heart
Inside all of us
Instil in us your sacred spirit
Help us, guide us
In all the things we need to learn today
Amen

Hikitia

Hikitia, hikitia te rongomaiwhiti o tēnei wānanga
Tukua kia ea, tukua kia ōī
Ko Ranginui ki runga, ko Papatūānuku ki raro
Tūturu whakamaua kia tina (tina) hui e tāiki e!

Karakia whakatau – karakia to close a meeting

Kia Tau

Kia tau ki a tātou katoa
Te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, a Ihu Karaiti
Me te aroha o te Atua
Me te whiwhingatahitanga
Ki te wairua tapu
Ake, ake, ake
Amine

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all
Forever and ever
Amen

Mihi – Greeting

Mihi – Greeting

Tēnā koe = Hello to one (formal)
Tēnā kōrua = Hello to two (formal)
Tēnā koutou katoa = Hello to more than two (formal)

Kia ora = Hello to one (informal)
Kia ora kōrua = Hello to two (informal)
Kia ora koutou  = Hello to many (informal)

E pēwhea ana koe? – How are you?

E pēwhea ana koe/ kōrua/ koutou? = How are you/ you two/ you all?
E pai ana = I am good/well
E pai ana au/ahau = I am good/well
E hari koa ana au/ahau = I am happy
E pouri ana au/ahau = I am sad
E āwangawanga ana au/ahau = I am concerned
E ngenge ana au/ahau = I am tired
E riri ana au/ahau = I am angry
E ngenge ana au/ahau = I am tired
E wera ana au/ahau = I am hot
E hiakai ana au/ahau = I am hungry
E hiainu ana au/ahau = I am thirsty
E māngere ana au/ahau = I am lazy
Āhua pai = okay

Introducing yourself

Tēnā koutou katoa = Hello to you all
Ko……tōku ingoa = My name is….
Nō……ahau/au = I am originally from….
Kei……ahau/au e noho ana, ināianei = Now, I live in….
Ko…….tōku pāpā/matua = My father is…..
Ko…….tōku māmā/whaea = My mother is…..
Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa = In conclusion, greetings.

Introducing yourself at a hui

Tēnā koutou katoa = Greetings to you all
Nō te (whare wānanga) o Waikato ahau = I am from the (University) of Waikato OR
Nō Te Kura Toi Tangata o Waikato ahau = I am from Waikato Faculty of Education
He kaiako au mō te….= I am a lecturer/teacher for……
Ko……..tōku ingoa = My name is….
Tēnā koutou katoa OR
Kia ora tātou katoa = Greetings

Introducing yourself to your class

Tēnā koutou katoa = Greetings to you all
Nau mai, haere mai ki te karaehe mō te pāngarau = Welcome to the class for mathematics (subject) OR
Nau mai, haere mai ki  te pepa (subject) = Welcome to the paper “name subject”
Ko……..tōku ingoa = My name is….
Ko au tō (koutou) kaiako mō te pepa nei = I am your lecturer for this paper.

Ngā Rerenga Kupu – Phrases

Ngā Mihi – Praises

Tino pai = Well done
Tino pai rawa atu = Excellent
Ka pai = Well done
Ka rawe = Great
Mīharo = Marvelous
Tau kē = Awesome

Taunaki – Encouraging

Kia mau = Hang in there
Kia kaha = Be strong, keep going
Kia manawanui = Be stout-hearted
Kia toa = Be brave
Karawhiua = Go for it. Do your best
Ka taea e koe= You can do it (said to one person)
Homai te pakipaki = Let’s clap

Whakamārama – Clarifying

Kua mārama? = Understood?
He aha te kupu Māori mō….? = What is the Māori word for…?
Kua mutu? = Finished?

Tohu – Instructions

E tū = Stand
E noho = Sit down
Haere atu ki waho = Go outside
Haere mai ki konei = Come over here
Hoatu ki… = Give to….
Hoki atu ki tō tūru = Go back to your seat
Hoki mai ki roto = Come back inside
Horoia ō ringaringa = Wash your hands
Huakina te kūaha = Open the door
Huri atu = Turn away
Huri mai = Turn this way
Ināianei tonu = Right now
Katia te kūaha = Shut the door
Kaua e kōrero! = Be quiet! Don’t talk!
Kaua e pēnā! = Don’t do that!
Kaua e wareware! = Don’t forget!
Kia rua ngā kape = Make two copies
Kia takitoru, takiwhā rānei = Form groups of three or four
Kia tau = Be still, Settle down
Kia kamakama/tere = Be quick!
Kimihia = Look for it
Kohia te rāpihi = Collect the rubbish
Kōrero = Speak
Kōrero Māori mai = Speak to me in Māori
Kuhu mai ki roto = Come back inside
Taihoa/Tatari = Wait
Unuhia/Tangohia ō hū = Take off your shoes
Tīkina = Fetch
Titiro mai = Look this way
Turituri/Hoihoi = Be quiet
Rārangi atu = Line up over there
Rārangi mai = Line up here, near me
Rārangi ki waho/roto = Line up outside/inside
Whakahokia te pukapuka = Take the book back
Whakamaua tō potae = Put on your hat
Whakapaingia te rūma = Tidy the room
Whakarongo mai = Listen here

Patai – Questions

Ko wai – Asking who

Ko wai tōu ingoa? = What is your name?
Ko wai ō koutou ingoa, tamariki mā? = What are your names, children?
Ko wai te ingoa o te kōtiro (tangata/tamaiti) rā? = What is the name of that girl (man/child) over there?

He Aha – Asking what

He aha tēnei? = What is this here? (indefinite, singular)
He aha ēnei? = What are these here? (indefinite, plural)
He aha tēnā? = What is that near you? (indefinite, singular)
He aha ēnā? = What are those near you? (indefinite, plural)
He aha tērā? = What is that in the distance? (indefinite, plural)
He aha ērā? = What are those in the distance? (indefinite, plural)

Ko tēwhea/tēhea – Asking which

Ko tēwhea/tēhea tōu? = Which is yours? (definitive, singular)
Ko te mea kōwhai = The yellow one.

Ko ēwhea/ēhea ōu? = Which are yours? (definitive, plural)
Ko ngā mea kōwhai = The yellow ones.

Ko tēwhea/tēhea tō whare? = Which is your house? (definitive, plural)
Ko te mea rākau rā = The wooden one.

No whea/hea – Asking where

Nō whea/hea koe? = Where are you from?
Nō Kirikiriroa ahau/au = I am from Hamilton.

E haere ana koe ki whea? = Where are you going to?
E haere ana ahau/au ki te tāone = I am going to town.

Kei whea/hea taku pukapuka (peke, pene, inu)? = Where is my book (bag, pen, drink)?
Kei runga (raro) i te tēpu = On (underneath) the table.

Kupu – Vocabulary

Kaute – Counting

1 = tahi
2 = rua
3 = toru
4 = whā
5 = rima
6 = ono
7 = whitu
8 = waru
9 = iwa
10 = tekau
15 = tekau mā rima
25 = rua tekau mā rima
100 = Kotahi rau

Tāngata – People

He Māngai = Class representative
Kōtiro = Girl
Manuhiri = visitors
Ngā pūkenga = Teaching team
Rangatahi = Youth
Tama = Boy
Tamaiti = Child
Tangata = Person
Tāne = Man
Tangata whenua = locals
Te kaiwhakahaere = Coordinator
Te pūkenga = Lecturer
Tungāne = brother
Wahine = Women
Whānau = family

Marau – Subjects

Hākinakina = Sports
Hangarau = IT Technology
Hauora = Health
Kanikani = Dance
Kōhungahunga = Early Childhood
Mahi Toi = Art
Pāngarau = Mathematics
Pūoro = Music
Pūtaiao = Science
Te Reo Matatini = Literacy
Tikanga-a-iwi = Social Studies

University Words

Ngā Āhuatanga = Description and Structure
Te Kaupapataka = Structure and content
Te pātai matua = Essential Question
Ngā māramatanga = Enduring Understandings
Ngā mahi hei whakatutuki = Essential requirements
Ngā whāinga paetae = Aims
Ngā whāinga = Objectives
Ngā putanga ako = Learning Outcomes
Ngā hua ako = Learning intentions
Ngā ngaiotanga hei whakatutuki = Professional requirements
Te arotakenga o te pepa = Paper review
Te wā = Duration
Te wātaka = Timetable
Te wāwāhinga mahi me te whakamātautau = Work to examination ratio
Ngā huarahi whakaako = Teaching Approaches & Strategies
Ngā aromatawai = Assessments
Ngā pānuitanga matua = Required Reading
Ngā pānuitanga hei tautoko = Recommended Reading
Ngā rauemi = Equipment
Ngā tikanga me ngā ture o te Tohu Paetahi = General Requirements and Regulations for Undergraduate Papers
Ngā taumahi = Assignments
Ngā mahi = Workload
Te Hōtaka = Programme
Ngā wāhanga hei tirohanga = Sections To Be Considered:
Ngā rā kati = Due dates
Taumahi Tuatahi = Assignment One:
Taumahi Tuarua = Assignment Two:
He Tuhingaroa = Essay
Ngā taumahi tōmuri = Late Assignments
Te mahi takaroa = Extensions
He whakaaro motuhake = Special Consideration for Missed Assessment or Impaired Performance
Tirohanga tuarua = Review of Final Grade
Ngā mahinga tuaruatanga = Re-submissions
Ngā taumahi kua tuhia ki te reo Māori = Assignments written in Māori
Ngā ture o te whare wānanga = Reference to University Regulations
Ngā hononga ki pepa kē atu = Link to other papers
Ngā pae tukutuku hei tautoko = Useful websites
Ngā aratohu tohutoro = Referencing Guidelines
Mahi whānako = Plagiarism
Ngā take haumaru = Health and Safety
He āwangawanga = Student Concerns and Complaints

Whārangi Ipurangi – Web Pages

Maori online dictionaries

Learn Maori online

Documents

Ideas For incorporating Te Reo in your classroom

The website tereomaori.tki.org.nz provides teaching tools and resources for teaching te reo Māori in English-medium Schools.

  • Displays – bilingual signage, posters, labelling items, te reo stickers….
  • Grouping – Ask students to group themselves by saying the Māori word for the shape they have been given (eg. tapatoru = triangle, tapawha = square…)
  • Affirmations/karakia – Begin and close your day, meeting or lesson with a karakia
  • Instructions/kupu – Use on a regular basis so students become familiar with the different terms
  • Greetings – Roll call using a phrase for the day, practice mihi with your students
  • Pronunciation – Role model correct pronunciation in daily conversation
  • Celebrate – significant days and put these on a calendar (eg. Mātariki, Kingitanga Day…)
  • Adopt – make and foster connections with a kōhanga reo, kura, te wharekura in your area
  • Games – Bingo, Māori trivial pursuits, Simon Says…