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The directional markers are mai ("towards the subject or the speaker"), atu ("away from the subject or the speaker"), ake ("up from the subject or the speaker") and iho ("down from the subject or the speaker").
In some sentences, an adverb (tonu, kē, rawa, anō and hoki) are added to these directional markers. In three cases, the adverb is added after the directional marker:
Tae tonu mai te ope ki konei, ka eke ki te marae.
As soon as the party got here, they went to the marae.
Tū kē atu tērā maunga.
That mountain stands apart.
Whānau rawa mai te tamaiti.
At least, the child was born.
In two situations, the adverb is added before the direction marker:
Kōrero mai anō, a Hera.
Tell me again, Hera.
Ka rere iho te tīwaiwaka, rere iho hoki tana hoa.
The fantail flew down, and so did her mate.
He kōrero hōhonu rawa atu.
An extremely deep talk.I ngā huihuinga ka noho mai ia tika tonu mai i ahau.
He sits opposite me in meetings.He kōrero hōhonu kē atu.
A deeper talk.Tokohia kē mai nei ngā tāngata e tae mai ana mō te kai!
What a lot of people are arriving for the food!Auē! E haere tonu mai ana te pūru!
Oh! The bull is still coming!Pā tonu mai te karanga, ke whakaeke te ope.
As soon as they heard the call, the party went onto the marae.Kaua rawa atu koe e hoko i tēnā pōtae.
You mustn't buy that hat.Ka piki puku atu hoki a Ponga i muri i a ia.
Ponga also climbed up silently behind her.Kei te ora rawa atu au.
I'm extremely well.Kei te tino pai rawa atu māua i nāianei.
We are really good now.Kōrero mai anō? Āta kōrero.
Can you repeat that please? Slowly please.Me Ponga i hoki mai anō mā te tatau ōna i puta atu ai.
And Ponga came back in by the same door he had left by.Tae rawa atu, kātahi tonu ia ka haere.
When we arrived, he had just left.Kei te hiainu rawa atu au.
I'm extremely thirsty.Āe, me haere kē atu au.
Yes, I'll go.Haere tonu rāua, me te whai atu anō a Ponga i muri tata.
They went on with Ponga following close behind.Kōrero mai anō, a Pāora.
Tell me again, Pāora.