NCEA L1 Te Reo Māori key terms

A word; the basic unit of language that carries meaning. In NCEA Level 1 you are expected to build a wide kupu base and use it accurately in speaking and writing.

A sentence or spoken utterance. It has a subject and a predicate and must make complete sense on its own, unlike a fragment or a single word answer.

A question. Recognising pātai by their question words (wai, aha, hea, pēhea) is essential for listening and for answering appropriately in conversation.

An answer or reply. A good whakautu responds directly to the pātai asked, uses correct grammar, and is delivered with suitable tone and volume.

Pronunciation. Correct vowel length, stress and consonant sounds affect meaning, so whakahua is assessed in both speaking and listening tasks.

A letter of the alphabet. The Māori alphabet has short and long vowels and consonants, and knowing each pū helps with spelling and dictionary use.

To speak, talk, or a speech, story or account. It is one of the most common words in the exam and appears in instructions about speaking, listening and discussing.

To listen. Listening tasks require you to follow spoken Māori, identify key information and respond in Māori or English as instructed.

To read, or a notice or announcement. Reading tasks ask you to understand short written texts such as notices, letters, and simple narratives.

Writing. In writing tasks you produce short texts in Māori, so you need control of sentence structures, spelling and punctuation.

A written text, document, or piece of writing. It can be a formal document or a short piece you compose for assessment.

A greeting, or a formal speech of welcome and acknowledgement. Mihi often follow a set pattern and are used in speaking assessments and on marae.

A statement of identity that names your connections: mountain, river, marae, ancestors and people. It is a common speaking topic and shows cultural understanding.

Genealogy or family lineage. Understanding whakapapa helps you follow texts about family relationships and use kinship terms correctly.

Family or extended family. It is a core vocabulary item and appears often in reading passages about home, school and community life.

A friend or companion. A very common word in dialogues and letters, and useful for describing relationships in speaking and writing tasks.

School, or a school. It appears in everyday topics such as timetables, subjects and school events, and is frequent in listening and reading texts.

A teacher or instructor. Knowing roles like kaiako, ākonga and tumuaki helps you understand texts about school and answer questions about people.

A learner or student. It is used in school contexts and in formal education language, and often appears alongside kaiako in notices and reports.

A place or location. It is used in directions, descriptions and questions about where things are, and is common in reading and listening texts.

Where. It is a question word used to ask about place, often in the pattern 'kei hea' for 'where is'. Recognising hea helps you answer location questions.

Who. A question word used to ask about people, as in 'Ko wai tō ingoa?'. Listening for wai tells you the answer must be a person's name.

What. A question word used to ask about things or actions, as in 'He aha tēnei?'. It signals that the expected answer names an object, idea or activity.

How, or what like. It is used to ask about manner, condition or opinion, so answers describe qualities, feelings or processes rather than simple names.

A name. It appears in introductions and in questions about people and places, and is one of the first words learners use in spoken exchanges.

To go, come, or travel. It is a very common verb and appears in instructions, invitations and narratives about movement and journeys.

To sit, stay, live or remain. It appears in descriptions of where people live and in instructions, and is often paired with location phrases.

Food, or to eat. It appears frequently in everyday texts about meals, shopping and hospitality, and combines with other words to name foods.

A house or building. It is used in descriptions of places and in compounds such as wharekai and wharepukapuka, so knowing it helps you decode longer words.

Day, or sun. It appears in dates, greetings and weather descriptions, and its meaning depends on context, so careful reading is needed.

Night. It is used in greetings and time references, and contrasts with rā in everyday expressions about when something happens.

Time, a period, or a specific occasion. It appears in timetables and in questions about when events happen, so it is key for listening tasks.

Work, job, or to do. It is used in questions about occupations and in describing activities, and appears constantly in reading and listening texts.

To play, or a game. It appears in texts about sport, recreation and school life, and is useful vocabulary for describing free-time activities.

Love, compassion, or sympathy. It is a key value word used in greetings, farewells and letters, and signals warmth in tone and register.

Good, well done, or thank you. It is a common expression of approval and encouragement, and recognising it helps you follow the tone of a conversation.

Correct, right, or just. It appears in feedback and in value discussions, and understanding it helps you judge whether a statement or action is appropriate.