Writing (Tuhi): Crafting Coherent Te Reo Māori Texts
Writing (Tuhi) is assessed through a portfolio of crafted texts. At Level 2 you write for different purposes and audiences - letters, reports, narratives, opinion pieces - showing a coherent structure, a range of language, and control of grammar, spelling and macrons.
Core rules
- Decide purpose, audience and register before drafting: Kia ora e te ētita suits a formal letter; Kia ora e hoa suits a familiar message.
- Paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting detail and a link. Use tuatahi, ā, engari, nā reira and hei whakamutunga to guide the reader.
- Control grammar: a-category and o-category possession; te/ngā; kei te/kua/ka/i te; me + verb; passive endings; pronoun agreement.
- Build range with ki a au nei, otirā, e tika ana, and precise vocabulary rather than repeated pai or nui.
Worked example
Task: write an opinion paragraph for the school newsletter about pollution in a local river. Draft: “Kia ora e te ētita. Kei te tuhi au ki a koe mō te parahanga i te awa. Ki a au nei, me mahi tahi te kura me te hapori ki te horoi i te awa. He mea nui tēnei mō te hauora o te wai, ā, mō ngā uri whakatipu. Nō reira, me tīmata tātou i tēnei wiki.” Reasoning: the greeting fits the audience; kei te tuhi au states purpose; ki a au nei gives opinion; me mahi tahi recommends action; ā links the reason; nō reira concludes. Check te awa singular and ngā uri plural.
Traps
Translating English idioms word for word; inconsistent macrons; wrong passive ending; mixing a/o possession; writing long sentences without links; using an informal register for a formal audience.