Emergency

1. Āwhina mai!

   ā-whi-na mai

   Help me!

   Usage

   The most basic emergency call for help.

   Grammar Note

   `Mai` is a directional particle toward the speaker. In emergencies in NZ, call 111 (police/ambulance/fire). English is universally understood.

2. Waeatia he waka tūroro!

   wae-a-ti-a he wa-ka tū-ro-ro

   Call an ambulance!

   Usage

   Used to ask bystanders to call an ambulance in a medical emergency.

   Grammar Note

   NZ emergency number is 111. Saying `Call one-one-one` in English works everywhere. `Waea` (phone/wire) is borrowed from English `wire`.

3. E māuiui ana au

   e mā-ui-ui a-na au

   I am sick / I don't feel well

   Usage

   Basic phrase to communicate feeling unwell.

   Grammar Note

   `Māuiui` describes being sick or unwell. English is understood at medical facilities, but `E māuiui ana au` (I am sick) and `He mamae tōku...` (My ... hurts) are useful.

4. He mamae tōku manawa

   he ma-mae tō-ku ma-na-wa

   My chest (heart) hurts

   Usage

   Used to describe body pain. `Manawa` can mean "belly, bowels, heart, breath"; in modern use it is read first as heart/chest.

   Grammar Note

   `He mamae tōku [body part]` expresses pain. Examples: `tōku pokohiwi` (shoulder), `tōku māhunga` (head), `tōku waewae` (leg/foot). ⚠ `Uma` is the chest/bosom, not the shoulder — the shoulder is `pakihiwi`.

5. Kei hea te hōhipera?

   kei he-a te hō-hi-pe-ra

   Where is the hospital?

   Usage

   Used to locate a hospital in an emergency.

   Grammar Note

   NZ has public hospitals nationwide. For non-emergencies, visit a GP (general practitioner). Call 111 for emergencies. NZ's ACC scheme may cover some visitor medical costs.

6. Kua ngaro tōku pēke

   ku-a nga-ro tō-ku pē-ke

   My bag has been lost

   Usage

   Used to report a lost bag or belonging.

   Grammar Note

   `Kua` marks perfect tense in Māori (an action just completed). `Kua ngaro` = has become lost. Report losses to the police (Ngā Pirihimana).

7. Kua tāhaetia āku taonga

   ku-a tā-hae-ti-a ā-ku tao-nga

   My belongings have been stolen

   Usage

   Used to report theft or robbery.

   Grammar Note

   `Tāhaetia` is the passive of `tāhae` (to steal, rob). Reporting to police in English is most effective. NZ is relatively safe but petty theft does occur.

8. He aha āu rongoā?

   he a-ha ā-u ro-ngo-ā

   What medications are you on?

   Usage

   Used by medical staff to ask about medications, or to explain your own prescriptions.

   Grammar Note

   `Rongoā` covers both modern medicine and traditional healing. `Rongoā Māori` is a holistic healing system combining medicinal plants, karakia (prayer), and spiritual wellness.

9. E hia ngā inumanga i te rā kotahi?

   e hi-a ngā i-nu-ma-nga i te rā ko-ta-hi

   How many times should I take it?

   Usage

   Used to clarify medication dosage or frequency.

   Grammar Note

   A dosage-language example with `inu`: "kia kotahi tīpune e inu i te inumanga kotahi, ā kia ono inumanga i te rā kotahi" = one teaspoon at a time, six times a day. ⚠ `Tāima` is clock time (hours and minutes) and cannot mean "number of doses". English is understood at NZ medical facilities.

10. Kei hea ngā Pirihimana?

    kei he-a ngā Pi-ri-hi-ma-na

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Used to find the police station or report an incident.

    Grammar Note

    `Pirihimana` adapts English `policeman`. NZ Police: 111 for emergencies, 105 for non-emergencies. NZ police wear black uniforms.

11. Kei te heke tōku toto

    kei te he-ke tō-ku to-to

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    Emergency phrase to communicate that you are bleeding from an injury.

    Grammar Note

    "Heke" means to flow or descend. Combined with "toto" (blood) = to bleed. In a real emergency, shouting "Help! I'm bleeding!" in English is fastest.

12. Kāti!

    Stop it

    Usage

    Show it firmly without speaking — for touts and scams

13. Kaua e pā mai!

    Do not touch me

    Usage

    When you do not want to be touched; deliberately blunt

14. Ahi

    Fire

    Usage

    Show it to report that something is on fire

15. Tāhae

    Thief

    Usage

    Show it when reporting a theft. The same word also means "to steal"; tāhaetia is its passive form. An unrelated sense is "excrement, filth".

16. Whānako rupe

    Robbery

    Usage

    whānako (to rob) plus rupe: the legal term for robbery carried out with violence or a weapon

17. Ringa kamakama

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    ringa (hand) plus kamakama (quick): someone who lifts wallets in a crowd

18. Kōhuru

    Murder

    Usage

    As a noun it names murder or homicide; as a verb it carries a sense of treachery

19. Pōmu

    Bomb

    Usage

    A loan word from English "bomb"

20. Waeatia he waka tinei ahi!

    wae-a-ti-a he wa-ka ti-nei a-hi

    Please call a fire engine

    Usage

    Ask bystanders when you find a fire. New Zealand's emergency number is 111

    Grammar Note

    The same sentence pattern as "Waeatia he waka tūroro!" ("Please call an ambulance"). Using "waka tinei ahi" ("fire engine") as the object makes it a request to call a fire engine. Waka tūroro and waka tinei ahi are compound nouns: waka (vehicle) plus its function.

21. Ahi! Oma!

    a-hi o-ma

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Shout it to alert others and get them moving when you see a fire

    Grammar Note

    "Ahi" ("fire") followed by "oma" to get people moving. The verb means "oma (verb) (-kia) to run, race, flee, escape, move quickly, run away.", with the example "Ka tīmata au ki te oma. / I started to run away."

22. Tāhae! Hopukina!

    tā-hae ho-pu-ki-na

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Calling for help from bystanders when someone snatches your belongings

    Grammar Note

    "Tāhae" ("thief") followed by a command to seize. The verb means "hopu (verb) (-a,-kia,-kina,-ngia) to seize, catch, snatch, detect, take in the act, capture, arrest." Māori commands are normally passive, as in "Āwhinatia mai au ki tēnei" and "Kōrerotia mai ki a au". The passive suffixes include -a, -kia, -kina and -ngia.

23. Kei te kōrero Hapanihi tētahi i konei?

    kei te kō-re-ro Ha-pa-ni-hi tē-ta-hi i ko-nei

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Show it first at a police or hospital counter when looking for an interpreter

    Grammar Note

    The "Kei te kōrero + language name" pattern of "Kei te kōrero Pākehā koe?" ("Do you speak English?"), with the language "Hapanihi", the subject "tētahi" ("someone", the form used in "tētahi tākuta"), plus the locative "i konei" (as in "He petipeti ana i konei."). Hapanihi is a loan noun meaning Japanese: "Hapanihi (loan) (noun) Japanese." with the example "taka rawa mai ki tana ako i a ia ki te kōrero Hapanihi".

24. Kua mauri moe ia.

    ku-a mau-ri moe i-a

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Telling emergency services the condition of a person who has collapsed

    Grammar Note

    The perfective "Kua + predicate" of "Kua tāhaetia āku taonga". "Mauri moe" means "mauri moe (verb) to be unconscious.", with the example "He mea tarawete tana māhunga i te kēmu whutupōro, koinā ia i mauri moe ai."

25. Kei te toromi tētahi!

    kei te to-ro-mi tē-ta-hi

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Alerting others when you see someone drowning at sea or in a river

    Grammar Note

    The progressive "Kei te + verb" of "Kei te mamae tōku māhunga". "Toromi" means "toromi (verb) to drown.", with the example "e 40 anake ngā hōkete i toromi i te waipuketanga o te awa". "Tētahi" is the form used in "tētahi tākuta".

26. Kua patua au.

    ku-a pa-tu-a au

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Reporting an assault to the police or to medical staff

    Grammar Note

    The "Kua + passive" construction of "Kua tāhaetia āku taonga", which puts the victim in subject position. "Patu" means "patu (verb) (-a) to strike, hit, beat, assault, kill, subdue, ill-treat."; the passive "patua" uses the "-a" suffix.

27. Kua werohia au.

    ku-a we-ro-hi-a au

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Telling medical staff or police that you were stabbed

    Grammar Note

    The "Kua + passive" construction. "Wero" means "wero (verb) (-hia,-ngia) to pierce, spear, challenge, stab, poke, jab, bite, puncture, sting (of an insect), inject."; the passive "werohia" uses the "-hia" suffix.

28. Ko ia te tangata hara.

    ko i-a te ta-nga-ta ha-ra

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Pointing out the offender to the police

    Grammar Note

    The "Ko + subject" equative construction of "Ko te Ara Ninety Mile kei te raro." and "Ko hea te whare petipeti?". "Tangata hara" appears as the singular in an example for "hunga hara (noun) offending party, offenders, sinners.": "…ki runga ki te tangata hara, ki te hunga hara rānei. / …punishments on the offender, or offending party." "Tangata" is the form used in "He tēpu mō ngā tangata e rua?".

29. Kua tinihangatia au.

    ku-a ti-ni-ha-nga-ti-a au

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Reporting a scam or a rip-off

    Grammar Note

    The "Kua + passive" construction. "Tinihanga" means "tinihanga (verb) (-tia) to deceive, cheat, trick, flout, take liberties with, tease, mock.", and the example "Tinihangatia ai au e ngā tamariki o ō mātau whānau mō aku mate." shows exactly this passive plus the subject "au".

30. Kua tāhaetia tōku wāreti.

    ku-a tā-hae-ti-a tō-ku wā-re-ti

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Use it when filing a theft report; remember to cancel your cards too

    Grammar Note

    The "Kua + passive" construction concerns wāreti (wallet). Tōku is the singular "my", as in "Kua ngaro tōku pēke". "Kua tāhaetia āku taonga" is another example of the passive construction. Wāreti is a loan noun meaning wallet; wārete is a variant spelling.

31. Kua wareware au ki tōku pēke.

    ku-a wa-re-wa-re au ki tō-ku pē-ke

    I left my bag behind

    Usage

    Reporting that you left a bag behind in a shop or on a bus

    Grammar Note

    Wareware means "to forget, forgotten", with passive suffixes -hia, -ngia and -tia. Example: "Kua wareware au ki te ingoa" ("I’ve forgotten the name"). The forgotten thing is marked by "ki + noun phrase"; tōku pēke means "my bag". Distinguish wareware (here, forgetting something behind) from ngaro (being lost), as in "Kua ngaro tōku pēke".

32. Kua tūtuki te motokā ki a au.

    ku-a tū-tu-ki te mo-to-kā ki a au

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Telling police or medical staff that a car hit you

    Grammar Note

    Built on the "X tūtuki ki Y" pattern shown by "tūtuki (verb) (tukia) to stumble, bump, knock, collide with, strike against." and its example "Ka tūtuki a Rona ki ngā pakiaka i runga i te ara.", with "te motokā" ("motokā (loan) (noun) car, automobile, motorcar.") and "ki a au" ("to me", the form used in "Kōrerotia mai ki a au"). Kua marks the perfective.

33. Oma ki te putanga ohotata.

    o-ma ki te pu-ta-nga o-ho-ta-ta

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Directing people to evacuate in a fire or similar emergency

    Grammar Note

    "Ki te + noun" ("to the …") is the prepositional phrase of "E hiahia ana ahau ki te kite i tētahi tākuta" and "Ka taea te haere mai ki konei mā runga tūru wīra?". Putanga ohotata means "emergency exit". "Oma" means "oma (verb) (-kia) to run, race, flee, escape, move quickly, run away."

34. Kia tūpato!

    ki-a tū-pa-to

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Warning someone of immediate danger. Shout it

    Grammar Note

    The "Kia + stative verb" imperative of "Kia ora tonu". "Tūpato" is used as a warning in "He petipeti ana i konei. Āta tūpato!", and it means "tūpato (verb) to be cautious, careful, wary, suspicious, alert, vigilant".

35. Kia tere!

    ki-a te-re

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Telling an ambulance or taxi that the situation is urgent

    Grammar Note

    The "Kia + stative verb" imperative of "Kia ora tonu", using the stative verb "tere". The meaning is "tere (verb) to be quick, swift, fast.", and its example "Ina pania te parāoa ki te tiamu kia tere tonu te whawhao i te parāoa ki roto o te waha" shows the very form "kia tere".

36. Haere mai ināianei.

    hae-re mai i-nā-i-a-nei

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Telling someone on the phone, or through a third person, to come to where you are

    Grammar Note

    "Haere mai" ("come") used as the imperative, with the time word "ināianei" added. The meaning is "ināianei (location) now, at present, presently".

37. He ohotata tēnei.

    he o-ho-ta-ta tē-nei

    It's an emergency

    Usage

    Say it first on the phone or at a counter to signal that the situation is urgent

    Grammar Note

    The "He + noun + subject" nominal predicate of "He mate puku tōku" and "He inihua kei ahau". "Ohotata" ("emergency") is the same form as in "Putanga ohotata", and "tēnei" the same form as in "Kei te hiahia au ki tēnei".

38. Kawea au ki te hōhipera.

    ka-we-a au ki te hō-hi-pe-ra

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Asking a taxi driver or a bystander when you can still move but do not need an ambulance

    Grammar Note

    Māori requests are normally passive, as in "Āwhinatia mai au ki tēnei" and "Kōrerotia mai ki a au"; the verb here is "kawe". The verb means "kawe (verb) (-a) to carry, convey, take, bear."; the passive "kawea" uses the "-a" suffix. The destination "ki te hōhipera" is the form of "Kei hea te hōhipera?" and "Te hōhipera".

39. He aituā waka.

    he ai-tu-ā wa-ka

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Tell the police, paramedics or bystanders that a traffic accident has happened

    Grammar Note

    The "He + noun" presentational frame of ("He ohotata tēnei.", this is an emergency). "Aituā" is the word of ("Kua aituā — tēnā tukua te kaitiaki ara."), meaning "ill omen, trouble, tragedy, calamity, disaster, catastrophe, accident, fatality, misfortune". The collocation "aituā waka" appears in the name of the official body "Te Kōmihana Tirotiro Aituā Waka" (Accident Investigation Commission); "waka" is the word of ("Te waka")

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