Māori Grammar

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One day these children will be respected elders

hei

Hei has several uses in te reo Māori.

It can be used to talk about future location:

Hei te marae rātou.
They will be at the marae.

It can also be used to talk about the future purpose or function of an object:

Anei he pukapuka hei āwhina i a koe.
Here's a book to help you.

I hoko au i tētahi kurī hei mōkai mā taku tama.
I bought a dog as a pet for my son.

Ka tuhi pikitia au hei koha ki a ia.
I will draw a picture as a present for her.

Hei tapahi mīti tēnei māripi.
This knife is for cutting meat.

Tikina he naihi hei tapahi i te parāoa.
Fetch a knife to cut the bread with.

When used about people, hei can refer to a future role, job, function or position:

Hei kaiako ia.
She will be a teacher.

Ka noho au hei nēhi.
I will be a nurse.

Ka pakeke rawa atu au, ka tū kē au hei Mema-Pāremata.
When I eventually grow up, I am going to stand as a member of Parliament.

Hei can be followed by a noun ("this book will be a gift") or a transitive verb ("this book will help") or passive verb ("this book will be read"):

Hei koha tēnei pukapuka.
This book is as a gift / will be a gift.

Hei āwhina i ngā ākonga tēnei pukapuka.
This book is to help the students.

Hei pānuitia tēnei pukapuka e ngā ākonga.
This book is to be read by the students.

See also:

• The reason for an action - hei

Kei te tiki ia i tētahi rākau hei tokotoko māku.
He is getting me a branch as a walking stick for me.

Tēnā koe e hoa, e pīrangi ana koe ki te haere ki te tāone hei whakanui i ā tāua mahi?
Thanks mate, do you want to go to town to celebrate our work?

He aha te tino kai hei kai mā ngā tamariki?
What is best food for the children to eat?

Kōrerohia te reo Māori hei oranga mōna.
Speak te reo Māori for its wellbeing.

Hei aha te pene rā?
What is the purpose of that pen?

Hei aha tēnā tuaina? Hei here i aku pīni.
What's that twine for? For tying my beans up.

Āe, he keke pea hei whakanui i te taenga mai o Tawa.
Yes, perhaps a cake to celebrate the arrival of Tawa.

Kei whea ngā tihi mākū hei ūkui i tō kumu?
Where are the wet wipes to wipe your bum?

Hei aha te rīpene whakapiri? Hei whakamau atu i ngā pānui whakaahua ki te pakitara.
What's that adhesive tape for? For attaching the posters to the wall.

I kohikohi ia i te kawakawa hei rongoā mō te māuiui o tāna tama.
He collected kawakawa as a cure for his son's illness.

Inumia te wai māori hei oranga mōu.
Drink fresh water for your wellbeing.

Kei konei koe hei āwhina.
You're here to help.

Hei aha te hui?
What is the purpose of the meeting.

Ke kohi i te hua o te miro, hei hinu whakakakara.
They gathered miro berries to make scented oil.

Hei puhi.
For the purpose of writing.

I ēnei rā, kua waiho taua wāhi hei urupā mō ngā tūpāpaku.
Now that place remains as a burial place for the dead.

Kainga i waho, ke whakaritea he tohunga hei whāngai mō Tū-whakairi-ora.
They ate out of doors, and a tohunga was appointed to feed Tū-whakairi-ora.

He aha te pukapuka pai hei pānui mā ngā tamariki hei konei hei āpōpō?
What is a good book for the children to read here tomorrow?

Ko te Rāhoroi te rā pai hei haerenga ki Pōneke.
Saturday is the best day for going to Wellington.

Hei kai kē te mīti nā, kāore hei mōunu.
That meat is for food, not for bait.

I hoko au i tētaho kurī hei mōkai mā taku tama.
I bought a dog as a pet for my son.

He aha te pukapuka pai hei pānui mā ngā tamariki?
What is a good book for the children to read?

Hei aha ngā taonga hangarua rā? Hei hanga taonga toi.
What are those recycled goods for? For making artworks.

Rawe hoki te huka me te wai rēmana hei kīnaki.
The sugar and lemon juice are also great as a garnish.

Ka tunu keke ia hei whakanui i tōku rā huritau.
She will bake a cake in order to celebrate my birthday.