Beach & Activities

1. Kei hea te tāhuna?

   kei he-a te tā-hu-na

   Where is the beach?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of the beach

   Grammar Note

   Māori location questions use "Kei hea...?". "Kei" is the locative preposition for current position. Long vowels are shown with macrons (ā).

2. He wāhi kaukau tēnei.

   he wā-hi kau-kau tē-nei

   This is a swimming area.

   Usage

   Used to indicate a swimming area

   Grammar Note

   "He" is the indefinite article placed before nouns. "kaukau" refers to swimming or bathing. In Māori, vowel length is phonemically distinct.

3. He nui ngā ngaru.

   he nui ngā nga-ru

   The surf waves are large.

   Usage

   Used to describe surf conditions at the beach

   Grammar Note

   "ngā" is the plural definite article, plural of "te". "He nui" is a predicate expression meaning large or many. ngaru covers surf as well as waves in general (to surf is eke ngaru). NZ beaches are famous for surfing.

4. He haumaru tēnei mō te kaukau?

   he hau-ma-ru tē-nei mō te kau-kau

   Is this safe for swimming?

   Usage

   Used to check if it is safe to swim here

   Grammar Note

   "haumaru" is a multivalent word meaning safe, sheltered, or shaded. "mō" is the preposition indicating purpose or relation.

5. He petipeti i konei. Āta tūpato!

   he pe-ti-pe-ti i ko-nei. Ā-ta tū-pa-to

   There are jellyfish here. Be careful!

   Usage

   Used to warn about jellyfish

   Grammar Note

   "Āta tūpato" is a warning expression meaning be careful. "āta" is an adverb meaning slowly or carefully.

6. Ko Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē kei te tonga.

   ko Te O-ne-ro-a-a-Tō-hē kei te to-nga

   Ninety Mile Beach is to the south.

   Usage

   Used to describe the famous Ninety Mile Beach of NZ

   Grammar Note

   "Ko" is the Māori identificatory preposition used to name the subject. "Kei te tonga" means "is in the south". Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē is the Māori name of Ninety Mile Beach.

7. He ātaahua rawa atu a Pēwhairangi.

   he ā-ta-a-hu-a ra-wa a-tu a Pē-whai-ra-ngi

   The Bay of Islands is absolutely beautiful.

   Usage

   Used to praise the Bay of Islands, NZ

   Grammar Note

   "rawa atu" intensifies adjectives to mean very or absolutely. "ātaahua" is the most common Māori adjective for beauty.

8. He ātaahua te tōnga o te rā.

   he ā-ta-a-hu-a te tō-nga o te rā

   The sunset is beautiful.

   Usage

   Used to express admiration for a beautiful sunset

   Grammar Note

   "te tōnga o te rā" means the setting of the sun (sunset). "o" is the preposition showing possession or relation.

9. Ka tipu te pōhutukawa i te tāhuna.

   ka ti-pu te pō-hu-tu-ka-wa i te tā-hu-na

   The pōhutukawa tree grows at the beach.

   Usage

   Used to describe the pōhutukawa, NZ's Christmas tree

   Grammar Note

   "Ka" is a tense marker before verbs indicating general actions or states. Pōhutukawa blooms red in NZ summer (December).

10. He ātaahua rawa atu ngā tāhuna o Coromandel.

    he ā-ta-a-hu-a ra-wa a-tu ngā tā-hu-na o Coromandel

    The beaches of Coromandel are absolutely beautiful.

    Usage

    Used to praise the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula

    Grammar Note

    The Coromandel Peninsula is known for Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. Its Māori name is "Te Tara-o-te-Ika-a-Māui".

11. He nui ngā tāngata e tākaro ana whutupōro i te tāhuna.

    he nui ngā tā-nga-ta e tā-ka-ro a-na whu-tu-pō-ro i te tā-hu-na

    There are many people playing beach rugby.

    Usage

    Used to describe people enjoying beach rugby

    Grammar Note

    Māori continuous tense uses "ana" after the verb. Rugby is New Zealand's national sport, deeply connected to Māori culture.

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