Ngā Tohutohu
In Māori locating what is being spoken about in relation to the speaker and listener is important. The words showing direction i.e. mai, atu, iho and ake are often used to indicate location in relation to the speaker. The words nei, nā and rā are also frequently used for locating things in relation to the speaker and listener. Nei is used when the subject of discussion is located near the speaker. Nā is used when the subject of discussion is located near the listener, while rā is used when the subject of discussion is located away from both the speaker and the listener. Nei, nā and rā are also used in combination with te and ngā which indicate how many objects or people are being discussed.
Hei tauira:
Titiro ki te motokā nei.
Look at the car here. (or Look at this car.)
Nei is used to indicate that the car is near the speaker.
Ko Eruera te tangata nā.
Eruera is that person (near you).
Nā is used to indicate that Eruera is near the listener.
Nā Mīria ngā pukapuka rā.
Those books (over there) belong to Mīria.
Rā is used to indicate that Mīria’s books are away from both the speaker and the listener.
Te is often added to nei, nā and rā when one thing is being referred to.
Hei tauira:
Ko tōku motokā tēnei.
This is my car. (near the speaker)
Ko Eruera tēnā.
That is Eruera. (near the listener)
Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there. (away from both the speaker and the listener)
When more than one item or person is being referred to, the initial t is omitted.
Hei tauira:
He pukapuka ēnei.
These are books. (near speaker)
He rakiraki ēnā.
Those are ducks. (near the listener)
He hipi ērā
Those are sheep. (away from both the speaker and listener)
For further explanations and exercises: Te Kākano pp. 44-45
Whiriwhirihia te kupu tika hei whakakī i te āputa.
