Accessibility

1. Ka taea te haere mai ki konei mā runga tūru wīra?

   ka tae-a te hae-re mai ki ko-nei mā ru-nga tū-ru wī-ra

   Is this place wheelchair accessible?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether a location is accessible for wheelchair users

   Grammar Note

   "Tūru wīra" is a wheelchair, and "mā runga tūru wīra" means "by wheelchair". ⚠ "Tīeke" is the saddleback bird (and "tieke" is a cheque) — it has nothing to do with chairs

2. He ararewa kei a koutou?

   he a-ra-re-wa kei a kou-tou

   Do you have an elevator / lift?

   Usage

   Used to ask about elevator availability

   Grammar Note

   In Māori, "he" functions as an indefinite article and is used in questions about possession or existence

3. E hiahia ana ahau ki tētahi rūma mō ngā tāngata hauā.

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na a-hau ki tē-ta-hi rū-ma mō ngā tā-nga-ta hau-ā

   I need a room with accessibility features.

   Usage

   Used when requesting an accessible room at a hotel

   Grammar Note

   "E … ana" is Māori's continuous aspect marker and "ngā" is the plural definite article. "Ngā tāngata hauā" means "people with disabilities". ⚠ "Āporo" is the loanword for "apple" and has nothing to do with facilities

4. He rōnaki, he kūaha rānei kāore nei he arapiki?

   he rō-na-ki, he kū-a-ha rā-nei kā-o-re nei he a-ra-pi-ki

   Is there a ramp or step-free entrance?

   Usage

   Used to ask about ramp or step-free entrance access

   Grammar Note

   "Kāore" is Māori's negation word. "Kāore nei he arapiki" describes the state of having no steps

5. Kei hea te wharepaku mō ngā tāngata hauā?

   kei he-a te wha-re-pa-ku mō ngā tā-nga-ta hau-ā

   Where is the accessible restroom?

   Usage

   Used to locate an accessible restroom

   Grammar Note

   "Kei hea" asks about location. "Mō" is a preposition meaning "for the purpose of"

6. He hauā karu ahau — ka āhei koe ki te āwhina i ahau?

   he hau-ā ka-ru a-hau — ka ā-hei koe ki te ā-whi-na i a-hau

   I am visually impaired — can you help me?

   Usage

   Used to inform someone of visual impairment and request help

   Grammar Note

   "He" + noun + pronoun forms a predicative sentence "X is Y". "I ahau" marks the object with particle "i" + "ahau" (me)

7. He mēnū pū nui tō koutou?

   he mē-nū pū nui tō kou-tou

   Do you have large-print menus?

   Usage

   Used at restaurants to request a large-print menu

   Grammar Note

   "Tō koutou" is the plural possessive; "tō" marks a single possessed item (one menu) held by plural "koutou". "Pū" is the element for a letter of the alphabet, as in "pūmatua" (capital letter) and "pūriki" (lower-case letter)

8. He aratohu reo ā-waha e wātea ana?

   he a-ra-to-hu re-o ā-wa-ha e wā-te-a a-na

   Are there audio guides available?

   Usage

   Used at museums or attractions to ask about audio guide availability

   Grammar Note

   "Reo ā-waha" means "spoken language / audio". "E … ana" is the continuous aspect, indicating a current state of availability

9. He kaiāwhina rongo taringa tōku — tukua mai ō kupu mārama.

   he kai-ā-whi-na ro-ngo ta-ri-nga tō-ku — tu-ku-a mai ō ku-pu mā-ra-ma

   I use a hearing aid — please speak clearly.

   Usage

   Used to inform someone of hearing aid use and request clear speech

   Grammar Note

   "Mai" is a Māori directional particle indicating movement toward the speaker. "Ō kupu" is the plural possessive "your words"

10. Ka āhei ahau ki te kawe i tōku kurī āwhina?

    ka ā-hei a-hau ki te ka-we i tō-ku ku-rī ā-whi-na

    Can I bring my service/guide dog?

    Usage

    Used to ask whether a service or guide dog is permitted at a venue

    Grammar Note

    "I" marks the object. "Tōku" is the singular possessive meaning "my (one thing)"

Browse all TravelPhrases languages