MAori Business Korero

Previous Section | Table of Contents | Next Section

GREETINGS - HE MIHIMIHI

There are many ways to greet people in Maori. The examples below can be broadly used in written correspondence (letters, memos, email, etc) or spoken.

INFORMAL

For informality, a popular general greeting on the telephone is:

Kia ora

Hello

Kia ora can be used to address any number of people

FORMAL

To people you have not met or do not know very well:

Tena koe

Greetings to you (one person)

Tena korua

Greetings to you (two people)

Tena koutou

Greetings to you (more than two people)

To friends or colleagues you have a close relationship to:

Tena koe e hoa

Greetings my friend

Tena koe toku hoa

Greetings my friend

To elders:

Tena koe e Kui

Greeting a female elder

Tena koe e Koro

Greeting a male elder

To people of importance:

Tena koe e te rangatira

Greetings Sir or Madam

In Maori culture Sir and Madam ("e te rangatira") are only imposed amongst the very elite - where as in English, sir or madam is often used as a generic salutation. It is therefore preferable to use the person's name or a more general title where possible.

Tena koe, Ms Smith

Greetings, Ms Smith

Tena koe, e Mary

Greetings, Mary

Tena koe, Jonathan

Greetings, Jonathan

Kia ora, e Pita

Dear Peter

Kia ora, Miriama

Dear Miriama

Note that short names are preceded by the word e in these addresses (eg. e Pita, e Mary, e Joe) while longer names are used without it (eg. Miriama, Jonathan, Katherine).