Māori Language Week is an opportunity for concentrated celebration, promotion and encouragement.
Te Wiki o te reo Māori is becoming a major fixture on the national calendar providing an opportunity for raising awareness, and giving an opportunity for expert and advanced speakers to encourage others on their te reo Māori journey.
For our part, we want to help you incorporate te reo into your everyday business.
Thank you to Heddell Raerino, Associate Dean for Te Kura Māori, Student Engagement, Study and Career Progression under the Health, Education and Environment Faculty from Toi Ohomai for your help with these commonly used phrases and words for businesses – give them a go!
Te Reo Māori | Te Reo Pākehā |
Tēnā koe | Greetings (to you singular) |
Tēnā kōrua | Greetings (to you two) |
Tēna koutou | Greetings (to you all- 2+) |
Tēnā tāua | Greetings (to us two) |
Tēnā tātau | Greetings (to us all- 2+) |
hui | Meeting |
kaupapa | Topic/focus |
pakihi | business |
mahi | work |
kāri pakihi | Business card |
hoa pakihi | Business colleague |
mahi pakihi | Business work |
Homai koa tō kāri mahi/pakihi | Please give me your work/business card |
Anei taku kāri mahi | Here is my work card |
waea mai | Call me |
īmēra mai | Email me |
‘Skype’ mai | Skype me |
Te Reo Māori | Te Reo Pākehā |
He aha tō nama waea? | What’s your phone number? |
Kei hea tō wāhi mahi? | Where do you work? |
Ka hui tahi tāua | Let’s (us two) meet |
mā te | via |
Ka hui tahi tāua mā te … ‘Skype’ | Let’s (us two) meet via Skype’ |
Ka hui tahi tāua mā te … ‘Teams’ | Let’s (us two) meet via ‘Teams’ |
Ka hui tahi tāua mā te … ‘Google Meets’ | Let’s (us two) meet via ‘Google Meets’ |
Ka hui tahi tātau … | Let’s (us all 2+) meet … |
Ka haere tāua ki te inu kāwhe/tī, kōrero ai. | Let’s go for coffee/tea and talk |
Kōrero mai | Speak (towards me) |
Whakarongo mai | Listen (towards me) |
Titiro mai | Look (towards me) |
Study re reo for free with Toi
Did you know that Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology offers a free course in te reo? New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Reo Rua) (Level 2) is open to anyone, with an intake in February 2021.
The Tokoroa intake is the only full-time (on campus) study option. All other intakes/locations are delivered part-time over two trimesters using a blend of online study plus 1-2 days on campus.
Level 2 is best suited for those wanting to begin their te reo journey and build confidence with the language, working with passionate tutors and like-minded students with similar knowledge of the language.