te-reo-maori-ko-wai-au
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Te Reo Māori for Absolute Beginners • Lesson 3 of 8
Ko Wai Au?
Who am I?
Learn how to say your name, ask someone’s name, say where you are from and give a short, respectful introduction.
Whāinga AkoLearning goals
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Say your name
Introduce yourself using Ko … tōku ingoa or Ko … ahau.
Ask someone’s name
Use Ko wai tō ingoa? in a simple conversation.
Share your place
Say where you are from and where you live.
Introduce yourself with care
Share only connections that are true to you and respect the difference between a simple introduction and pepeha.
Ko wai koe?
Use these phrases to ask who someone is and give your own name.
Small Words, Important Jobs
These words help you understand the introduction patterns.
| Word | Beginner meaning | Example | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| wai | who? | Ko wai koe? | |
| koe | you — one person | Ko wai koe? | |
| ahau | I / me | Ko Hana ahau. | |
| tō | your — one person | tō ingoa | |
| tōku | my | tōku ingoa |
Nō hea koe?
Ask where someone is from, then name the place you belong to or come from.
Where Do You Live?
Where you are from and where you live may be different places.
A Short Conversation
Read the English directly beneath each line, then practise both parts.
Tōku Mihimihi Poto
My short introduction. Replace the example details with information that is true for you.
Tēnā koutou katoa.
Ko Hana tōku ingoa.
Nō Ōpononi ahau.
Kei Tāmaki Makaurau ahau e noho ana.
Ngā mihi.
Greetings to you all.
My name is Hana.
I am from Ōpononi.
I live in Auckland.
Thank you.
- Greeting: choose Tēnā koe, Tēnā kōrua or Tēnā koutou katoa.
- Name: say Ko [your name] tōku ingoa.
- From: say Nō [your place] ahau.
- Living: say Kei [your place] ahau e noho ana.
- Close: finish with Ngā mihi.
He Wāhi, He Tuakiri
Place and identity. The places we come from, live in and care for can all be part of our story.
Tikanga: Identity and Pepeha
A simple name-and-place introduction is a useful beginning. A pepeha can express deeper relationships with whakapapa, people and whenua.
Be truthful
Do not claim an iwi, hapū, waka, maunga or awa that is not yours. Share your actual family and place connections.
Seek guidance
If you are developing a pepeha, ask whānau, kaumātua, kaiako or appropriate local people to help you understand its meaning and form.
Share what is right
You may say where your ancestors came from if you want to and can. A respectful introduction does not require you to invent whakapapa.
Knowledge Check
Open each question after choosing your answer.
1. How do you ask one person for their name?
Ko wai tō ingoa?
2. How would Hana say, “My name is Hana”?
Ko Hana tōku ingoa.
3. What does “Nō hea koe?” ask?
Where are you from, or where do you belong?
4. What is the difference between “Nō Ōpononi ahau” and “Kei Ōpononi ahau e noho ana”?
The first says “I am from Ōpononi.” The second says “I live in Ōpononi.”
5. Should you add an iwi or maunga to your introduction simply to complete a template?
No. Share only connections that are true for you and seek appropriate guidance when developing a pepeha.