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