te-reo-maori-nga-tau
ITIAN Knowledge Hub
Technology Simplified — Solutions That Work
Te Reo Māori for Absolute Beginners • Lesson 4 of 8
Ngā Tau
Numbers
Learn to count from zero to ten, build larger numbers, ask how many, and use numbers in everyday conversations.
Whāinga AkoLearning goals
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Count to ten
Recognise, say and write the Māori numbers from zero to ten.
Build larger numbers
Use tekau and mā to form numbers from eleven onwards.
Ask how many
Use E hia? to ask about a quantity.
Use numbers naturally
Count useful objects and include numbers in a short conversation.
Numbers from Zero to Ten
Select Listen, repeat each number, then count through the full sequence without looking.
Ka Tahi, Ka Rua…
When counting items one by one or marking a sequence, you may hear ka before each number.
Building Numbers Above Ten
Tekau means ten. Add mā and another number to make eleven through nineteen.
| Number | Te reo Māori | How it is built | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | tekau mā tahi | ten plus one | |
| 12 | tekau mā rua | ten plus two | |
| 15 | tekau mā rima | ten plus five | |
| 20 | rua tekau | two tens | |
| 21 | rua tekau mā tahi | two tens plus one | |
| 35 | toru tekau mā rima | three tens plus five |
E Hia?
Use e hia to ask “how many?” about things.
A Short Number Conversation
Read the English directly beneath each line, then practise both parts.
He Wāhi, He Tau
Numbers are part of everyday life: dates, addresses, distances, groups and the stories of places.
Tikanga: Counting with Context
Numbers are practical, but the people, taonga and whenua being counted still deserve care.
People have mana
Use tokohia when asking how many people, and remember that people are not simply objects in a total.
Ask before recording
Numbers connected with whānau, attendance, age or personal information may be private. Ask permission before sharing them.
Follow local knowledge
Mātauranga Māori includes rich systems for time, seasons and the environment. Learn these in their proper context from knowledgeable people.
Whakarongo, Kōrero, Tatau
Listen, speak and count. Use this five-step practice.
- Count up: say zero to ten while looking at the number cards.
- Count down: say ten to zero without the cards.
- Build numbers: say 11, 14, 20, 24 and 35 in te reo Māori.
- Count nearby objects: ask E hia? and answer with a full sentence.
- Check the macrons: write whā, mā and ngā correctly.
Knowledge Check
Open each question after choosing your answer.
1. What is the Māori word for four?
Whā. Remember the macron.
2. What number is “tekau mā rua”?
Twelve: ten plus two.
3. How do you say twenty-one?
Rua tekau mā tahi.
4. How do you ask, “How many books are there?”
E hia ngā pukapuka?
5. Which word is commonly used to ask how many people?
Tokohia, as in Tokohia ngā tāngata?