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74. Te mihi ki te tangata (Acknowledgments and thanks)
Season 1 · Episode 14

74. Te mihi ki te tangata (Acknowledgments and thanks)

Everyday Māori · Hēmi Kelly

October 14, 202320m 51s

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Show Notes

In this episode, we explore a kōrero between two people about saying thanks.


Different way to say ‘Thanks’ in conversation: 

  • Kia ora koe/kōrua/koutou
  • Tēnā koe/kōrua/koutou
  • Ngā mihi (nui)
  • Ngā mihi ki a koe/kōrua/koutou
  • Ka nui te mihi
  • Ka nui te mihi ki a koe/kōrua/koutou 


Acknowledging someone and what they’ve done: 

  • Tēnā koe i tō haere mai
  • Tēnā koe i tō/ō mahi
  • Tēnā koe i tō/ō kōrero
  • Tēnā koe i ō kupu
  • Tēnā koe i tō tautoko mai i ahau
  • Tēnā koutou i ngā manaakitanga
  • Tēnā koe nāu i tuku ngā karakia
  • Tēnā koutou i ēnei koha
  • E te kaikarakia, tēnā koe 


Acknowledging and greeting can be a way of expressing thanks, where words like mihi, whakamoemiti, whakamihi, aumihi and mihi taurangi are used. Here are some examples taken from the old Māori newspapers, which can be found if you Google niupepa Māori.

  • Tuatahi, he whakamoemiti atu nāku ki ngā iwi o te Tai Rāwhiti. E hoa mā, e kore e taea e au te whakamārama te nui o taku whakamoemiti atu ki a koutou - Te Kōpara, 1919. 
  • He nui taku whakamihi ki te kaha o R. T. K. ki te whakamāori i nga kupu nunui ngā tohunga o te iwi Pākehā - Te Toa Takitini, 1926. 
  • E koro, tēnā koe, tēnei ahau te aumihi atu nei kia koe mōu i kaha ki te hāereere ki te tiro haere i ō marae i Aotearoa me te Waipounamu - Te Puke ki Hikurangi, 1900. 


Certain kīwaha can be used to express thanks:

  • Mei kore ake koe
  • Me kore ake koe hei whakaako mai i a mātou.
  • Mei kore ake koe hei tohutohu i a mātou.
  • Nāu i pai ai te hui
  • Nā koutou i pai ai tēnei rā
  • Nāu i rangatira ai tēnei hui
  • E tika ana kia mihia ngā ringawera
  • Me mihi ka tika ki ngā kaiwhakahaere


The Everyday Māori Podcast is supported by Te Mātāwai as a part of its contribution to Maihi Māori - Kia ūkaipō anō te reo.


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