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.
Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.Tokomaha i haere atu ki tōna tangihanga.
Many went to her funeral.Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Tāmaki-makau-rau?
When did you leave for Auckland?Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.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.Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Te rongonga atu o Niko i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Niko heard what his sister said...Whakaae atu ana a Te Tahi.
Te Tahi agreed.Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Tame ki a Tawa.
Tame passes the ball to Tawa.Kōrero atu ki a Manu.
Speak to Manu.Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.Kuhu atu te kī ki raro i te takapau.
Hide the key under the mat.Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.