Māori Grammar

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I'm coming. You're going.

haere mai, haere atu

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.

See also:

• Above, underneath, outside of - runga ake, raro iho, waho atu, roto atu

Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.

Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!

Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.

Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!

Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.

Te rongonga atu o Pāora i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Pāora heard what his sister said...

E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.

Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.

I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.

Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.

Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.

Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!

Ka whakamau atu au i te kope mā.
I'll put a fresh nappy on.

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 pangaa atu to pāoro e Nikau ki a Ari.
Nikau passes the ball to Ari.

Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!

E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.

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.

Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.

Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.

Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).

Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!

Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.

E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.

Kōrero atu ki a Manu.
Speak to Manu.

Puta atu koe.
Get out.

Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...

Whakaae atu ana a Te Tahi.
Te Tahi agreed.

Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.

Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.

Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!

Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.

Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.

Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!

Tae atu a Ponga ki tana taha.
Ponga reached her side.

Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.

I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Te Tai Hauāuru?
When did you leave for the Westland region?