A kiwaha, or saying, is something you would teach a learner at the beginning of a lesson, it is a fun way of teaching Te Reo Maori! A kiwaha can be made up and can mean anything as long as it is a saying.
For example: Hey Bro! — E Mara! Awesome! — Tau Ke! Wicked! — Wananei!
Kiwaha should be fun and exciting ways to express yourself!
Here are some examples:
- Tau Ke — Awesome!
- Wananei — Wicked!
- Tumeke — Awesome!
- E Mara — Hey bro!
- Titiro! — Look!
- Kia Tau! — Relax, settle petal!
- Keke ana te haere — Like a rocket
- He reka! — Yummm!
- Me haere — Come quickly!
- Te ataahua hoki! — That’s beautiful
- He tino pai hoki koe! — You’re very good!
- Ka mau te wehi! — That’s amazing!
- Katahi na te tamaiti mohio, ko koe! — What a clever child you are!
- Kei runga noa atu koe! — You’re the best!
- Aue, e hika ma! — Goodness me!
- Pai kare! — By golly!
- Kaua e mahi pena! — Don’t do that!
- Ehara, ehara — That's not right! Not even!
- Karawhiua — Give it heaps! Go hard!
- Te mutunga ke mai o te pai! — Never better/awesome!
- To ihu! — Butt out, stop being nosey!
- Marama keke — Piece of cake, easy as!
- Kua taka te kapa! — The penny has dropped!
- Kua pau te hau! — I'm exhausted!
- E ki e ki — Whatever!
- Kei runga noa atu koe! — You're awesome!
- Te aro i a au — I don't give a damn
- Katahi te tangata haututu — What a mischief person!
- Ka kai koe to tutae — What goes around, comes around!
- Na kawe korero te ki — A little bird told me!
- Engari tonu — Whatever!
- akuni pea — Maybe