• Whakamihi | Praising

  He tino pai hoki koe! You’re very good!

  Ka rawe! Awesome!

  He tino pai tō mahi. You’ve done a good job!

  Te ātaahua hoki! That’s beautiful!

  Kei runga noa atu koe! You’re the best!

  Ka mau te wehi! That's amazing!

  Kei whea kē mai te pai o te mahi nei! What an excellent job!

  He ātaahua hoki koe! You look beautiful!

  Tau Ke! Awesome!

  Wananei! Wicked!

  Tumeke Awesome!

  Kia Tau! Relax

  He reka! Yummm!

  Te ataahua hoki! That’s beautiful

  Katahi na te tamaiti mohio, ko koe! What a clever child you are!

• Whakamania | Scolding

  Ka kino tēnā! That’s bad!

  He mahi hīanga hoki tēnā! That is a naughty thing to do!

  Auē, e hika mā! Goodness me!

  Turituri tō waha! Be quiet!

  Pai kare! By golly!

  Auē taukiri e Oh gosh, oh dear.

  Taihoa ake nei Hold your horse.

  Kekē ana te haere Like a rocket

  E hika e, wī! Gee, is that right?!

  Kia tau! Relax, settle petal.

  Me haere Come quickly!

  E Mara! Hey Bro!

  Aue, e hika ma! Goodness me!

  Kaua e mahi pena! Don’t do that!

• Colloquialisms

  Poho kore te tūpuhi noa iho skin and bones

  Tangaroa piri whare ear to the ground

  Waha pakaru mouth like a torn sack

  Taringa kore no ears

  Waha papā verbal diarrhoea

  Ūpoko māro headstrong

  Ngau tuarā back biter

  He kiri tuna thick skinned

  He tangi meme crocodile tears

  Nāna anō tōna mate i kimi cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face

  Kāre au i whakapono atu believe one’s ears

  Pakihiwi kaha broad shoulders

  Puku tōna atu te rae jumped down my throat

  Māku katoa atu wet to the bone

  Hai aha tēnā flea in one’s ear

  Kei noho koe keep one’s nose out of

  Hāparangi tonu at the top of one’s lungs

  Rorirori bone head

  Tutū ana te puehu bad blood

  Mate tonu atu i te mataku blood runs cold

• Greetings

  Kia ora Hi

  Tēnā koe Hello (to one person)

  Tēnā kōrua Hello (to two people)

  Tēnā koutou Hello (to three or more people)

  Kei te pēhea koe? How are you?

  Kei te pai ahau I’m good

  Ka nui te ora I’m great

  Me koe? And you?

  Haere rā Goodbye (to someone leaving)

  E noho rā Goodbye (to someone staying)

  Ka kite anō See you again

  Hei konā See you later

• Introductions

  Ko (name of your waka) te waka My canoe is (name of your waka)

  Ko (name of your mountain) te maunga My mountain is (name of your mountain)

  Ko (name of your river) te awa My river is (name of your river)

  Ko (name of your tribe) te iwi My tribe is (name of your tribe)

  Ko (name of your sub tribe) te hapū My sub tribe is (name of your sub tribe)

  Ko (name of your chief) te rangatira (Name of your chief) is the chief

  Ko (name of your marae) te marae My marae is (name of your marae)

  Ko (your name) ahau I am (your name)

• Special Occasions

  Ngā mihi rā mō ngā rā kei mua i te aroaro All the best for the future

  Ngā mihi me te aroha nui mō te Rā o te Whaea Love and best wishes for Mother's Day

  Ngā mihi rā me te aroha nui mō te Rā o te Whaea, nā (ingoa) Happy Mother's Day love, from (name)

  Ki a Māmā me te aroha nui, nā (ingoa) To Mother with love, from (name)

  Me te aroha nui With all my love

  Ka nui taku aroha mōu Love you heaps

  Ka nui taku aroha ki a koe My love for you knows no bounds

  Taku aroha nui mōu Love ya heaps

  Taku aroha nui ki a koe Love ya heaps

  E kore e mimiti te aroha mōu My love for you will never wane

  E kore e ea i te kupu taku aroha mōu Words can't express how much I love you

  Tēnā koe i tō Huritau Happy Anniversary Love

  Tēnā koe i tō tāua Huritau Happy Anniversary Love

  Kia rā pai tēnei mōu Have a wonderful day

  E pōuri ana i te korenga e tae atu Sorry I can't be with you

  E pōuri ana i te korenga i tae atu Sorry I couldn't be with you

  Nau mai, e hine, ki te ao tūroa Welcome to your new baby girl

  Nau mai, e tama, ki te ao tūroa Welcome to your new baby boy

  Me te aroha With love

  Me te whakaaro nui atu With loving thoughts

  Me te aroha tino nui Fondest memories

  Me tōku aroha tino nui With all my love

  Aroha nui Much love/Lots of love

  Me te aroha nui ki a kōrua/koutou katoa Lots of love to you both/you all

  Me te aroha nui atu o mātou katoa Lots of love from us all

  Ngā mihi nui Love and best wishes

  Kei konā kei a koe/kōrua/koutou ngā whakaaro Our thoughts are with you

  Kei konā te whakaaro Thinking of you

  Mā te Atua koe e tiaki God be with you

  Kei a koe aku inoi My prayers are with you

  Me te aroha nui o Pāpā Love from Dad

  Me te aroha nui o Pāpā rāua ko Māmā Love from Mum and Dad

  Me te aroha nui o Māmā Love from Mum

  Me te aroha atu o te katoa i te kāinga nei Love from all at home

  Ko te wawata kia tino piki te ora ki a koe/kōrua/koutou With best wishes for a speedy recovery

  Kia piki te ora ki a koe/kōrua/koutou Wishing you a speedy recovery/Get well soon

  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

  Ngā mihi nui ki a kōrua tahi With best wishes to you both

  Mā te Atua e manaaki God bless

  Mā te Atua koe e manaaki God 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/Have a wonderful trip

  Tēnā rāwā atu koe Thank you/Many thanks

  Tēnā koe i ō manaakitanga mai Thank you for your hospitality

  Tēnā kōrua i ā kōrua manaakitanga mai Thank you for your hospitality

  Tēnā koutou i ā koutou manaakitanga mai Thank you for your hospitality

  Me te mihi nui In appreciation

  Me te mihi nui mō ō manaakitanga In appreciation of your kindness

  Me te mihi nui mō ā kōrua manaakitanga In appreciation of your kindness

  Me te mihi nui mō ā koutou manaakitanga In appreciation of your kindness

  Nau mai ki te wā kāinga Welcome home

  Hoki mai ki te wā kāinga Welcome home

• Birthday

  Ngā mihi rā i tō rā whānau, e te tau Happy Birthday, love

  Ngā mihi nui i tō rā whānau Wishing you a very happy birthday

  Ngā mihi nui me te aroha nui i tō rā whanau With love and best wishes for a Happy Birthday

• Congratulations

  Ngā mihi nui ki a kōrua, nā (ingoa) Congratulations and best wishes to you both, from (name)

  Ngā mihi nui me te aroha, nā (ingoa) Congratulations and love from (name)

  Ngā mihi nui me te aroha nui Congratulations and best wishes

  Tēnā rā kōrua i roto i ngā mihi me te aroha nui Congratulations and love to you both

• Christmas, New Year and Easter

  Ngā mihi o te wā me te aroha nui, nā (ingoa) Happy Christmas lots of love, from (name)

  Ngā mihi o te wā me te Tau Hou A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

  Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete Christmas Greetings

  Ngā mihi mō te Kirihimete Wishing you a very Happy Christmas

  Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou Happy New Year

  Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa Wishing you all a very Happy New Year

  Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou ki a kōrua Wishing you both a very Happy New Year

• Sympathy

  Me te aroha tino nui atu With deepest sympathy

  Me ngā whakaaro, inoi aroha atu With loving thoughts and prayers

  Tēnā rāwā atu koe i tō aituā nui With deepest sympathy for your sad loss

  E ngau kino nei te aroha With heartfelt sympathy

  Kei konā te aroha me te whakaaro With loving thoughts and sympathy

  Kore rawa atu e wareware With fondest memories

  Me te pōuri tino nui Please accept my/our deepest sympathy

  Hei maumaharatanga In memory/In fond remembrance

  Hei maumaharatanga ki te tino hoa In loving memory of a dear friend

  Te mamae me te pōuri nui e ngau kino nei Love and sympathy