Massage & Spa

1. Tēnā koa, romiromi mai i tōku tuarā.

   tē-nā ko-a, ro-mi-ro-mi mai i tō-ku tu-a-rā

   Please, loosen/massage my back.

   Usage

   Polite way to request a massage

   Grammar Note

   `Tēnā koa` is a polite request meaning please. `romiromi` means to massage or knead, and is also the name of traditional Māori massage.

2. E hiahia ana ahau ki te romiromi.

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na a-hau ki te ro-mi-ro-mi

   I want to experience romiromi (traditional Māori massage).

   Usage

   Used when wanting to experience traditional Māori massage

   Grammar Note

   Romiromi is traditional Māori bodywork aimed at restoring physical and spiritual balance. It can be experienced in Rotorua.

3. E hia ngā miniti?

   e hi-a ngā mi-ni-ti

   How many minutes?

   Usage

   Used to ask how long the massage session is

   Grammar Note

   `E hia` is the quantity question word meaning how many. `miniti` is borrowed from English `minutes`.

4. Māmā ake, kaua e kaha rawa.

   mā-mā a-ke, kau-a e ka-ha ra-wa

   More gently please, not too hard.

   Usage

   Used to request less pressure during a massage

   Grammar Note

   `kaua e` forms the negative imperative meaning do not. `ake` is a particle indicating comparison meaning more.

5. Kaha ake, tēnei wāhi.

   ka-ha a-ke, tē-nei wā-hi

   Harder here, this area.

   Usage

   Used to request more pressure in a specific area

   Grammar Note

   `kaha` means strong or powerful. Adding `ake` creates the comparative `stronger`. This is a concise directive easy to use.

6. E hiahia ana ahau ki te romiromi hinu.

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na a-hau ki te ro-mi-ro-mi hi-nu

   I want an oil massage.

   Usage

   Used when requesting a massage with oil

   Grammar Note

   `hinu` means oil, fat, or grease. Traditional Māori body oils include those from harakeke (flax) and other native plants.

7. E hiahia ana ahau ki te okioki.

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na a-hau ki te o-ki-o-ki

   I want to rest and relax.

   Usage

   Used to express the desire for relaxation and rest

   Grammar Note

   `okioki` is the reduplication of `oki` (to rest), emphasizing thorough relaxation. Māori reduplications often stress completeness.

8. E hiahia ana ahau ki te maimoatanga katoa o te tinana.

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na a-hau ki te mai-mo-a-ta-nga ka-to-a o te ti-na-na

   I want a full body treatment.

   Usage

   Used when requesting a full body treatment

   Grammar Note

   `maimoatanga` means care or treatment; the suffix `-tanga` nominalises verbs. `katoa` means all or whole.

9. E hia te utu?

   e hi-a te u-tu

   How much is the price?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the price of a massage

   Grammar Note

   `utu` is an important Māori concept encompassing reciprocation, payment, and response. `E hia te utu?` asks how much something costs.

10. He pai rawa atu! He māmā tōku tinana.

    he pai ra-wa a-tu! He mā-mā tō-ku ti-na-na

    It was very good! My body feels light and relieved.

    Usage

    Used to express satisfaction and relief after a massage

    Grammar Note

    `māmā` as an adjective means light or relieved, perfectly describing the feeling after a good massage. `He māmā tōku tinana` means my body feels light.

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