Māori Grammar

Kātahi te…! — “What a…!/How …!” (exclamation)

Core meaning and function
Kātahi te …! is an exclamatory pattern used to react to the quality or extent of something — often praise, sometimes criticism (like “What a…!” / “How …!”). (Te Aka Māori Dictionary)

Common patterns

• Kātahi te + noun phrase!
  Kātahi te rangi pai! — “What a great day!”

• Kātahi (nā / rawa) te + noun phrase! (adds emphasis) (Te Aka Māori Dictionary)

• Kātahi te + noun phrase, ko X! (adds a focused identification: “as for X…!”)
  e.g., Kātahi te tāone makariri, ko Timaru! (“What a cold town Timaru is!”)

What it’s NOT
This is different from kātahi ka… (“and then…”) which sequences events. (Te Aka Māori Dictionary)

Kātahi te rangi pai!
What a great day!

Kātahi te ua kaha!
What heavy rain!

Kātahi te hau mātao!
What a cold wind!

Kātahi te whare nui!
What a big house!

Kātahi te motokā ātaahua!
What a beautiful car!

Kātahi te kai reka!
What delicious food!

Kātahi te pō roa!
What a long night!

Kātahi te ara roa!
What a long road!

Kātahi te tamaiti haututū!
What a mischievous child! (Te Aka Māori Dictionary)

Kātahi te tangata mātau, ko Niko!
What a knowledgeable person Niko is! (Te Aka Māori Dictionary)

Kātahi rawa te wera!
How hot it is! (Te Aka Māori Dictionary)

Kātahi te mahi uaua!
What a hard job!