Using Te Reo in Wellington

Hei whakanui i te wiki o te Reo Māori, anei ētahi kīanga paku hei āwhina i a koe ki te huri haere, kia whānui ake hoki tō mōhio mō Te Whanganui a Tara.

For Māori Language Week, here are a few phrases for getting around and getting to know Wellington.

Ahakoa ko te wiki o te Reo Māori, he wiki atu anō rānei i te tau – e taea ana tō reo te whakapakari ake ahakoa te wā. He wāhi pai a Te Whanganui a Tara ki te whakaharatau. I tēnei tāone reorua, he huarahi pai ngā kīanga o ia rā  ki te ako e pā ana ki te ahurea, ki te pāhekoheko tahi hoki ki ngā tāngata o te rohe nei.

I a koe e hīkoi haere ana i ngā ara o te tāone, ka kaha rangona e koe te tuituinga o ngā kupu Māori ki roto i te kōrero. Ka iti noa iho tō whakapaunga kaha kia whai wāhi atu ai. Anei ētahi kīanga hei āwhina i a koe me tō torotoro haere i Te Whanganui a Tara.

Ā, kaua e wareware ki te kī atu ‘kia ora’ ki te kaitaraiwa o te pahi. Ko ‘Kia ora’ tētahi mihi ōpaki, e kapi ana i a ia ko ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’ me ‘thanks’.

A view of Wellington Harbour/ Port Nicholson at golden hour with Matiu/Somes Island in the centre of the image.
Waiter serving smiling customers at an outside table of August Eatery, with other customers and green plants in the foreground.
Four friends are having coffee and food at a café.
looking out over Wellington CBD from Mount Victoria during sunset.

I te kēmu | At the game

Kaua e makaia, me kiki Don’t pass it, kick it
Kia kaha ngā Ōpango Go hard All Blacks
Kua piro Try time
E oma! Run!

I tētahi wāhi kai | At a café or restaurant 

He mōwai māku Flat white, please
He tēpu mā te tokorua Table for two, please
I rawe te kai, kei te mihi! The food was great thank you
Kei hea te whareiti? Where is the bathroom

Huri noa i te tāone | Around the city

Ka paki ana te rā, ko Te Whanganui a Tara a runga You can’t beat Wellington on a good day
Kia pai te rā Have a great day
Kia kapo whakaahua tātou Let’s take a picture
E aha ana koe i te rā nei? What are your plans today

Translations provided by Matarau Consultants.

Looking for more?

At start of items
A bartender faces the wall while standing behind a colourful, tiki-style bar.

A meal of two halves — where to eat before the game

If you’re going to cheer on the boys, you need a decent feed beforehand to build up the energy. Grab a meal and convert the fuel into loud patriotic support.

Two friends take a break from cycling in front of the colourful boatsheds at Oriental Bay in Wellington on a sunny day.

48 hours in Wellington

It’s compact and walkable, has a calendar full of events, and is stacked with great bars and restaurants. Wellington is the perfect weekend getaway.

David Ball, an attacker on the Wellington Phoenix FC A-league team, runs with arms wide open toward his teammate to celebrate his goal during a match.

Wellington Phoenix 2024/25 A-League Season

2 November 2024 – 20 April 2025

The view of Wellington Harbour from Mount Victoria on a sunny day.

Your guide to cruise in Wellington

Wellington is the perfect cruise destination. As a compact and walkable city, it allows you to see and do a lot in one day. Here’s what you need to know when docking in Te Whanganui a Tara.

Two children climbing on a half-sphere climbing structure on a playground in Cobham Court, Porirua.

Twelve hours in Porirua

From dawn until dusk Porirua has you covered. Spending a day in the city will give you your fill of beautiful walking tracks, outdoor activities, and great food.

The patio at Golding's bar located in Te Aro in Wellington, with four tables, twelve stools and eight people sitting enjoying beer and pizza.

A long weekend in Wellington

How much hospitality, arts, culture, nature, and wildlife can you fit into three days? Come to Wellington to find out.

2 people airbrushing a large gorilla mask in the SFX area of the Wētā cave workshop tour.

Welly-would: A film buff’s guide to Wellington

Lights, camera, and action. With special effect tours, huge production studios, and boutique cinemas, get a taste of movie magic in Wellington.

A group of dancers in silver costumes are preforming on the street at CubaDupa.

Your guide to autumn in Wellington

The autumn leaves are numerous and so are the gigs, sports events, and festivals in Wellington. Head out into the crisp air and enjoy the buzz. 

Two people stroll along Oriental Bay Parade in Wellington holding hands on a sunny day.

Your guide to summer in Wellington

Visit an island, scream in a stadium, or indulge in ice cream. Here's how to enjoy some of Wellington's best summer days.

Two people sit in tall grass and admire a scenic vista with Kapiti Island in the background.

24 hours in the Kāpiti Coast

If you only have a day to spend in the Kāpiti Coast then you’ll need to get cracking. The sunny coast has a great selection of things to see, do, and eat.