Festivals & Events

1. Ngā mihi o Matariki!

   Happy Matariki! (Māori New Year)

   Usage

   Greeting for Matariki, the Māori New Year celebrated with the rising of the Pleiades

   Grammar Note

   Matariki has been a New Zealand public holiday since 2022. It honors the nine stars of the Pleiades.

2. Āhea tīmata ai te hākari?

   When does the festival start?

   Usage

   Asking when the festival begins

   Grammar Note

   "Āhea" asks about future time. "ai" is a pronoun-like particle after the verb that refers back to the time, place or manner already asked about.

3. Kei hea te wāhi matua mō ngā whakanui?

   Where is the main celebration?

   Usage

   Asking where the main celebration takes place

   Grammar Note

   "Kei hea...?" asks about current location in Māori. "I hea...?" asks about past location.

4. Ka taea e au te uru atu ki ngā whakanui?

   Can I join the festivities?

   Usage

   Asking permission to join the celebrations

   Grammar Note

   "Ka taea e au" expresses capability in Māori. "taea" means "can/able to".

5. He aha ngā kai tuku iho o tēnei hākari?

   What traditional food is eaten during this festival?

   Usage

   Asking about traditional festival food

   Grammar Note

   "kai tuku iho" = food handed down. "He aha ~?" = "What is ~?". Typical festival dishes include "hāngī" (earth-oven cooking), "kūmara" (sweet potato) and "kaimoana" (seafood).

6. He aha ngā kākahu e tika ana mō te hākari?

   What should I wear to the festival?

   Usage

   Asking what to wear to the festival

   Grammar Note

   "kākahu" (woven cloaks) are traditional Māori attire worn at Matariki and other formal occasions.

7. He utu tomokanga kei reira?

   Is there an entrance fee?

   Usage

   Asking if there is an admission fee

   Grammar Note

   "He ... kei reira?" asks whether something exists. "kei reira" = "is there".

8. E hiahia ana ahau ki te hoko taonga whakamahara mai i te hākari.

   I'd like to buy a souvenir from the festival.

   Usage

   Expressing desire to purchase a festival souvenir

   Grammar Note

   "taonga" means "treasured possession/thing of value" in Māori — a word with deep cultural significance.

9. He aha ngā tikanga tuku iho o tēnei whakanui?

   What are the traditional customs for this celebration?

   Usage

   Asking about the traditional customs of the celebration

   Grammar Note

   "tikanga" is a key Māori concept meaning "the right way" — encompassing rules, customs, and protocols.

10. He ātaahua rawa atu ngā whakapaipai me te āhua o te wāhi!

    The decorations and atmosphere are beautiful!

    Usage

    Complimenting the festival decorations and atmosphere

    Grammar Note

    "rawa atu" is an intensifier meaning "very/extremely". "ātaahua" means "beautiful".

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