Transportation

1. Kei hea te tūnga pahi?

   kei he-a te tū-nga pa-hi

   Where is the bus stop?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of a public transport stop.

   Grammar Note

   `Tūnga` is a standing place or position and `pahi` is a loanword from English "bus", so `tūnga pahi` = bus stop. `Kei hea` asks for location.

2. E hia ngā miniti?

   e hi-a ngā mi-ni-ti

   How many minutes does it take?

   Usage

   Used to ask how long a journey takes.

   Grammar Note

   Māori uses many loanwords. `Miniti` (minutes), `haora` (hour, from English). `E hia` asks for a quantity.

3. Ka haere tēnei waka ki Ākarana?

   ka hae-re tē-nei wa-ka ki Ā-ka-ra-na

   Does this bus go to Auckland?

   Usage

   Used to confirm whether a vehicle is going to your destination.

   Grammar Note

   `Ākarana` is the Māori name for Auckland. Many NZ place names derive from Māori. `Ki` is a directional preposition equivalent to English `to`.

4. Kei hea te taunga rererangi?

   kei he-a te tau-nga re-re-ra-ngi

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of the airport.

   Grammar Note

   `Taunga rererangi` = `taunga` (landing/berthing place) + `rererangi` (`rere` fly + `rangi` sky): airport.

5. E hia te utu mō tēnei tīkiti?

   e hi-a te u-tu mō tē-nei tī-ki-ti

   How much is this ticket?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of a transport ticket or fare.

   Grammar Note

   `Mō` is a Māori preposition meaning `for/about`. `E hia te utu` is a handy price-inquiry. NZ public transport is centred around Auckland and Wellington.

6. Kei hea te teihana tereina?

   kei he-a te tei-ha-na te-rei-na

   Where is the train station?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of a train station.

   Grammar Note

   Māori adapts English loanwords to fit its phonological system. `Teihana` is the loanword for "station" and `tereina` for "train".

7. Āhea tae mai ai tēnei waka?

   ā-he-a tae mai ai tē-nei wa-ka

   When does this bus arrive?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the arrival time of a vehicle.

   Grammar Note

   `Āhea` asks about future time (`Nōnahea` for past). `Ai` is a subordinating particle. Directional `mai` (toward here) indicates arrival.

8. Tīkina mai he tākihi māku

   tī-ki-na mai he tā-ki-hi mā-ku

   Please call a taxi for me

   Usage

   Used to ask hotel or facility staff to arrange a taxi.

   Grammar Note

   `Tīkina` is the passive imperative of `tiki` (fetch/get). `Mai` indicates direction toward speaker. Ride-sharing services like Uber are also popular in NZ.

9. Haere tāua ki uta

   hae-re tā-u-a ki u-ta

   Let's go to shore / land together

   Usage

   Used when disembarking from a ferry or ship, or inviting someone to move to shore.

   Grammar Note

   Māori `we` varies by number and inclusion. `Tāua` (we two, speaker + listener), `mātou` (we 3+, exclusive — does not include the listener; the inclusive form is `tātou`), `kōrua` (you two), `rātou` (they 3+).

10. Kei hea te tūnga pahi ki te taunga rererangi?

    kei he-a te tū-nga pa-hi ki te tau-nga re-re-ra-ngi

    Where is the airport bus stop?

    Usage

    Used to ask for the airport bus stop.

    Grammar Note

    `Ki te` here means "to / bound for", so `tūnga pahi ki te taunga rererangi` = "the bus stop for the airport".

11. Whakamutua te waka i konei

    wha-ka-mu-tu-a te wa-ka i ko-nei

    Please stop here

    Usage

    Used to tell a taxi or bus driver to stop at a particular spot.

    Grammar Note

    `Whaka-` is the Māori causative prefix adding `cause/make` to verbs. Examples: `whakamutu` (stop/end), `whakahoki` (return). Note: `wh` = /f/ sound.

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