Māori Grammar
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There are four directional markers in te reo Māori:
mai - towards me
atu - away from me
ake - up
iho - down
Atu is used to describe action away from the speaker.
Haere atu!
Go away.
Me kōrero atu koe.
You should speak to someone else.
You speak over there (away from me).
Literally: You should speak away.
Kei te haere atu a Hone.
John is going away.
Atu is also used as an intensifier, especially when used with rawa:
He tino pai rawa atu tōu reo.
Your voice is very good indeed.
Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.Whakaae atu ana a Te Tahi.
Te Tahi agreed.Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Ari ki a Hēmi.
Ari passes the ball to Hēmi.Te taunga rawatanga atu o Paki i te waka, ka tīmata ia ki te kaukau.
As soon as Paki jumped out of the boat, he began swimming.Kōrero atu ki a Ari.
Speak to Ari.Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.Te rongonga atu o Niko i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Niko heard what his sister said...Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.Kuhu atu te kī ki raro i te takapau.
Hide the key under the mat.E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.Tae atu a Ponga ki tana taha.
Ponga reached her side.Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Te Tai Tokerau?
When did you leave for the Northland region?Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Tokomaha i haere atu ki tōna tangihanga.
Many went to her funeral.