Māori Grammar

Ka pakopako, ka mutu, ka pakopako, ka mutu. Pēnei tonu mō tētehi wā roa.
It would knock, and then stop, knock and stop. It carried on like this for quite a while.

Ka tata tatū te take, kātahi ka puta ake he māharahara anō. I pēnei tonu te āhua ā pō noa.
The matter would just about be resolved, then someone would raise another concern. It carried on like this into the night.

Ka tū atu he kaikōrero i tēnei taha, ka noho, ka tū mai he kaikōrero i tērā taha, ka noho. Ka pēnei tonu te haere o ngā kōrero, heoi anō, mā te iwi kāinga e whakakapi.
A speaker stands on this side, then sits, a speaker on the other side stands, then sits. The speeches carry on in this fashion. However, the homeside closes.

Ka tau ngā karoro, ka oma atu te kurī, ka rere. Ka tau anō, ka oma anō te kurī ki te hopū, ka taki rere anō ngā manu. Pēnei tonu ā pau noa te hau o te kurī.
The seagulls would land and the dog take off after them, whereupon they'd take flight. Then they'd land again, the dog would run off again to try to catch them, and they'd all take to the air again. It carried on like this until the dog finally ran out of puff.

Homai ana e Mahuika he ahi, whakawetohia ana e Māui. Pēneitia tonutia ā pau noa ngā maikuku katoa, atu i tētehi mea kotahi.
Mahuika gave him fire, Māui doused it. This carried on until all of her fingernails were used up except one.