Volunteering

1. E hiahia ana ahau ki te tūao ki konei. Me pēhea ahau e rēhita ai?

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na a-hau ki te tū-ao ki ko-nei. Me pē-he-a a-hau e rē-hi-ta ai

   I'd like to volunteer here. How do I sign up?

   Usage

   Initial inquiry when wanting to join volunteer activities

   Grammar Note

   E hiahia ana expresses desire; me pēhea asks "how/in what way"

2. Kei hea te pokapū whakarite mahi tūao?

   kei he-a te po-ka-pū wha-ka-ri-te ma-hi tū-ao

   Where is the volunteer coordination center?

   Usage

   Ask for the location of the volunteer coordination centre

   Grammar Note

   kei hea asks for a location "where is"; pokapū means "center"

3. He pūkenga ōku i te ako / rongoā / hanga whare.

   he pū-ke-nga ō-ku i te a-ko / ro-ngo-ā / ha-nga wha-re

   I have experience in teaching / medical / construction.

   Usage

   Introduce your skills and background to volunteer coordinators

   Grammar Note

   He is the indefinite article; ōku is "my" used when the possessed things (here, skills) are plural. It does not mean the speaker is plural

4. E hia te roa o ngā haepapa tūao?

   e hi-a te ro-a o ngā hae-pa-pa tū-ao

   How long is the volunteer commitment?

   Usage

   Ask about the required duration for volunteer participation

   Grammar Note

   E hia asks "how many/much"; o is the genitive preposition "of/belonging to"

5. He taputapu motuhake, he whakangungu rānei e hiahiatia ana?

   he ta-pu-ta-pu mo-tu-ha-ke, he wha-ka-ngu-ngu rā-nei e hi-a-hi-a-ti-a a-na

   Do I need any special equipment or training?

   Usage

   Confirm what preparation is needed before participating

   Grammar Note

   rānei means "or"; hiahiatia ana is the passive "is wanted/needed"

6. E hiahia ana ahau ki te āwhina i ngā mahi āwhina aituā / taiao.

   e hi-a-hi-a a-na a-hau ki te ā-whi-na i ngā ma-hi ā-whi-na ai-tu-ā / tai-ao

   I'd like to help with disaster relief / environmental work.

   Usage

   Offer to help in a specific area of volunteer work

   Grammar Note

   "Ki te āwhina" = "in order to help"; "ngā" is the plural definite article. "Aituā" is the word for a disaster. ⚠ "Ārai mate" means IMMUNITY (cf. "kano ārai mate" = vaccine), not disaster relief

7. He hui whakamōhio mō ngā kaimahi tūao?

   he hui wha-ka-mō-hi-o mō ngā kai-ma-hi tū-ao

   Is there a volunteer orientation session?

   Usage

   Ask if an introductory briefing is available before starting

   Grammar Note

   He can introduce existence questions; mō means "for" (purpose/beneficiary)

8. Ka taea e ahau te tūao hei wāhanga o tētahi rōpū?

   ka tae-a e a-hau te tū-ao hei wā-ha-nga o tē-ta-hi rō-pū

   Can I volunteer as part of a group?

   Usage

   Ask if group participation is possible for volunteering

   Grammar Note

   ka taea means "it can be done"; hei means "as/to be" in this context

9. Ka tukua he whare noho me he kai mā ngā kaimahi tūao?

   ka tu-ku-a he wha-re no-ho me he kai mā ngā kai-ma-hi tū-ao

   Are accommodation and meals provided for volunteers?

   Usage

   Important question for long-term or travelling volunteers

   Grammar Note

   ka tukua is passive "is given/provided"; mā means "for" (beneficiary)

10. He aha ngā reo e hiahiatia ana mō te āwhina?

    he a-ha ngā re-o e hi-a-hi-a-ti-a a-na mō te ā-whi-na

    What languages do you need help with?

    Usage

    Ask which languages are needed when offering translation help

    Grammar Note

    he aha asks "what is it?"; ngā reo means "the languages" (plural definite)

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