Nature & Outdoors

1. Te moana

   te mo-a-na

   The ocean / sea

   Usage

   Referring to the ocean surrounding New Zealand

   Grammar Note

   moana is a shared Polynesian word for "ocean / sea"

2. Te maunga

   te mau-nga

   Mountain

   Usage

   Referring to NZ mountains such as the Southern Alps

   Grammar Note

   maunga are considered sacred in Māori culture, connected to ancestors

3. Te awa

   te a-wa

   River

   Usage

   Talking about rivers in New Zealand

   Grammar Note

   awa (rivers) hold spiritual significance in Māori culture

4. He ātaahua te ngahere

   he ā-ta-a-hu-a te nga-he-re

   The forest is beautiful

   Usage

   Admiring the beauty of NZ's native forests

   Grammar Note

   he + adjective + te + noun forms a descriptive sentence

5. Ka heke te ua

   ka he-ke te u-a

   The rain is falling

   Usage

   Saying that it is raining

   Grammar Note

   ka marks the onset of an event or change of state

6. Te ngāwhā

   te ngā-whā

   Geyser (geothermal)

   Usage

   Talking about NZ's geothermal areas like Rotorua

   Grammar Note

   Rotorua is famous for both Māori culture and geothermal activity

7. He āhua kino te rangi

   he ā-hu-a ki-no te ra-ngi

   The weather is bad

   Usage

   Commenting on bad weather

   Grammar Note

   āhua describes condition or appearance

8. He ātaahua te uenuku

   he ā-ta-a-hu-a te u-e-nu-ku

   The rainbow is very beautiful

   Usage

   Expressing admiration for a beautiful rainbow

   Grammar Note

   uenuku is also the name of a rainbow deity in Māori mythology

9. He nui ngā manu o Aotearoa

   he nui ngā ma-nu o Ao-te-a-ro-a

   New Zealand has many birds

   Usage

   Talking about NZ's rich birdlife including the kiwi

   Grammar Note

   ngā is the plural definite article in Māori

10. Ko Papatūānuku te māmā o te ao

    ko Pa-pa-tū-ā-nu-ku te mā-mā o te ao

    Papatūānuku (Earth Mother) is the mother of the world

    Usage

    Expressing the Māori worldview of nature as a living mother

    Grammar Note

    Papatūānuku is the Earth goddess in Māori creation mythology

Browse all TravelPhrases languages