Kia ora koutou students! Welcome to the Te Reo Māori module! As a new international student at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, we welcome you to the university community and invite you to explore, enjoy, and immerse yourself into many aspects of Aotearoa New Zealand's rich culture, including the Māori language. Māori are the Indigenous people of New Zealand. Te Reo, the Māori language, is one of three official languages of New Zealand (English and New Zealand sign language are the other two) and it is important to know some Te Reo words and how to pronounce them as you will see instances of Te Reo throughout your studies in New Zealand. In this module, we introduce and share with you some basic Te Reo. As you read through this module, reflect on how language has played an important part in your life and your identity.

Ata Mārie: Good Morning

Aotearoa: New Zealand ('the land of the long white cloud', ao = cloud, tea = white or pale, roa = long)

Aroha: Affection, compassion, empathy, love

Haere mai: Welcome, enter (come in)

Haka: Chant with dance for the purpose of challenge (The All Blacks rugby team perform a haka before every game)

Hangi: Traditional feast prepared in an earth oven (if you get a chance to eat a hangi, do it!)

Hui: Meeting, conference or gathering

Iwi: A community from the same place; a tribe.

Kai: Food

Ka pai: Great! If you do a good job on a test or assignment your Kiwi friends might say, "Ka pai!"

Kia kaha: Keep going! Be strong. Words of encouragement.

Kia ora: To wish someone life and health, it can be used for 'hello' and 'thanks'

Koha: Gift or present, or sometimes donation (for example, if you are visiting a small museum that has free entrance you might see a sign asking for a koha, in this case it means that if you would like to contribute a donation to the museum you're welcome to)

Kōrero: To tell, say, speak

Mahi: Work or activity (which could include your studies)

Mana: Authority, power, influence or reputation (for example someone might say that your university lecturer has a lot of mana, meaning they are an authority on the subject, have a great reputation or are influential in this area of study)

Manuhiri: Guests, visitors (when you visit a marae, you will be the manuhiri)

Marae: A Māori meeting house or large complex that includes the meeting house, and other houses or spaces, like a dining hall, sleeping houses, forecourt, etc.

Matariki: Māori New Year – Public Holiday (Jun/Jul)

Moana: The ocean

Mōrena: Good Morning

Nau mai: Welcome, enter (come in)

Ngā mihi: Kind regards

Pākehā: New Zealander of non-Māori descent, usually European

Pepeha: A way of introducing yourself to others

Pōneke: Wellington

Pounamu: Greenstone (another word in English for this is Jade). You will often see New Zealanders wearing jewellery made of greenstone. For many, this represents a connection to New Zealand. Traditionally, you can't buy pounamu for yourself, you must be gifted it

Pōwhiri: a welcome ceremony on to a marae (you may also have a pōwhiri to welcome you to your place of study)

Te Reo: The Māori language

Te Herenga Waka: Victoria University of Wellington

Te Whanganui a Tara: Wellington

Taonga: Treasure (this doesn't just mean something like jewellery. For Māori the land, soil and water are taonga)

Tapu: Sacred, taboo, not to be touched (if you come across something that you're told is tapu or is labelled as tapu, please don't touch and be very respectful of it)

Waiata: Song or chant (speeches on the Marae are followed with a song or chant)

Waka: Canoe (some people also call their car a 'waka' because it transports them)

Whānau: Family (including extended family)

Whare paku: Toilet

"Ko te reo tōku tuakiri | Language is my identity
Ko te reo tōku ahurei | Language is my uniqueness
Ko te reo te ora | Language is life"

Te reo Māori at Victoria: Find out how you can integrate Māori language into your work or study at Victoria University of Wellington. More information can be found here.

Looking for other resources? You can find some helpful ones below!

Te reo Maori Resources
Language Learning Centre at VUW

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