Weather & Climate

1. He wera rawa atu tēnei rā!

   he we-ra ra-wa a-tu tē-nei rā

   It's really hot today!

   Usage

   Weather conversation in New Zealand

   Grammar Note

   "Rawa atu" intensifies an adjective to mean "very". "He wera" = "it is hot"

2. Ka āhua ua

   ka ā-hu-a u-a

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   When rain seems likely

   Grammar Note

   "Ua" = rain in Māori. "Āhua" = appearance/resemblance

3. He āwhā kaha e tata ana mai

   he ā-whā ka-ha e ta-ta a-na mai

   A strong storm is approaching

   Usage

   Warning about an approaching storm

   Grammar Note

   "Āwhā" = storm in Māori. "Mai" indicates direction toward the speaker

4. He mātao pai te rangi i tēnei rā

   he mā-tao pai te ra-ngi i tē-nei rā

   The weather is pleasantly cool today

   Usage

   Comment on pleasant weather

   Grammar Note

   "Rangi" = sky/weather/heaven — an important word in Māori culture

5. Kōrerotia mai ngā āhuatanga huarere

   kō-re-ro-ti-a mai ngā ā-hu-a-ta-nga hu-a-re-re

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely asking for the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Huarere" = weather in modern Māori. "Āhuatanga" = condition/characteristic

6. Me pani i te pare tīkākā?

   me pa-ni i te pa-re tī-kā-kā

   Should I apply sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask on sunny days

   Grammar Note

   The word for sunblock is "pare tīkākā" (example: "Kaua e wareware ki te pani i tō kakī ki te pare tīkākā."). New Zealand has high UV levels — sunscreen is recommended

7. Me mau hamarara?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Before going out in uncertain weather

   Grammar Note

   Modern Māori uses English loanwords too. "Me mau" = should carry/wear

8. Ko ēhea wā o te tau he maroke?

   ko ē-he-a wā o te tau he ma-ro-ke

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Travel planning question

   Grammar Note

   NZ's dry summer: December–March (southern hemisphere). Māori calendar is based on nature

9. Ko ēhea wā o te tau he ua?

   ko ē-he-a wā o te tau he u-a

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the rainy season

   Grammar Note

   NZ's rainy period: mainly winter (June–August). The west coast is wet year-round

10. He kaha rawa atu te rā

    he ka-ha ra-wa a-tu te rā

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Exclamation about intense sunshine

    Grammar Note

    "Kaha" = strong in Māori. "Rawa atu" = very/extremely (intensifier)

11. Te ua

    Rain

    Usage

    To ask about or describe the weather

12. Te hau

    Wind

    Usage

    To ask about or describe the weather

13. Te hukarere

    Snow

    Usage

    For snow, e.g. in the South Island high country

14. Te kapua

    Cloud

    Usage

    To ask whether it is cloudy

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