Reading (Pānui): Gist, Detail and Inference
Reading (Pānui) is the external domain that tests your understanding of written te reo Māori texts such as notices, letters, articles, reports and stories. You need the main idea, supporting detail, purpose, audience, tone and implied meaning. Read in te reo rather than translating sentence by sentence.
Core rules
- Skim the title, opening, headings and conclusion first to predict the kaupapa.
- Scan for names, dates, numbers, places and commands. Notice ā te for dates and times, ki te for destination or purpose, and me for obligation.
- Use grammar to control meaning: kua (completed), ka (future/narrative), i (past), kei te (present), passive endings such as -tia, -ngia, -hia, and te/ngā for singular/plural.
- Follow cohesion: tēnei, ēnei, taua, ērā and otirā show how ideas connect.
Worked example
Text: “Ka tū te hui ā-whānau ā te 6 o ngā rā o Hune, ā te 7 karaka i te pō, ki te wharekai o te kura. Ko te kaupapa, ko te whakarite i ngā mahi hākinakina o te tau. Me mau mai e koe tētahi pukapuka me te pene.” Question: What is the meeting for, and what should you bring? Reasoning: Ka tū signals a future event; ā te 6 o ngā rā o Hune gives the date; ā te 7 karaka gives the time; ki te wharekai gives location. Ko te kaupapa introduces purpose: organising the year’s sport. Me mau mai e koe is an obligation: bring a book and pen. Audience: whānau.
Traps
Confusing ā (time/at) with a; missing me as obligation; assuming te and ngā are interchangeable; ignoring the question’s requested answer language; choosing a detail that is mentioned but does not answer the question.