Introduction
When Māori speakers leave their homes they are instantly surrounded by a sea of English language signage. This can send the message that Māori is not welcome as a language or even that Māori are not welcomed as Māori. By using Māori language signs the status of the language is promoted and it is seen as valued, along with its associated culture. Using Māori language or bilingual signs is something all organisations can do to promote revitalisation.
This signage list helps make te reo Māori language signage easy to do.
The words on the right can be used to translate the exact phrases on the left. It is not necessary to consult about the use of these translations on signs. Alternatives in te reo Māori are indicated by a forward slash /. Do not attempt to combine translations other than where provision is made to insert a word. Seek advice if you need to do this or are translating words other than the exact English words used here. Capitalisation follows the English capitalisation used and is illustrated in the list. If you change capitalisation in the English, change it also in the Māori – but be sure you change the equivalent word. Māori word order is not the same as English and in some cases the translation translates the concept not the words.
Tohutō or macrons (the little line above some letters) show that the vowel is pronounced as long. It also indicates where the stress on a word is. The placement of tohutō can change the meaning of words: pāhī means ‘to strike’; pahi means ‘bus’ and a pahī is a ship.
This list will be maintained by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. Suggest additions or give feedback to comms@tetaurawhiri.govt.nz
Bilingual Signage
Accessible Parking | Tūnga Waka, Ara Māmā |
Accessible Toilet | Wharepaku, Ara Māmā |
Accident repairs | Whakatikatika hauata |
After hours contact information | Whakapānga muri katinga |
After hours deliveries | Kawenga mai i waho o ngā hāora mahi |
After hours exit | Putanga muri katinga |
Alcohol Free Area | Whaitua Waipiro Kore |
Alcohol will not be served to anyone who is intoxicated | E kore te waipiro e hokona ki te tangata haurangi |
Alcohol will not be served to minors | E kore te waipiro e hokona ki te hunga rangatahi i raro i te 18 tau |
All visitors and contractors must sign in | Me mātua haina ngā manuhiri me ngā kaikirimana i te pukapuka |
All visitors and contractors must sign in | Manuhiri mā, ringa kirimana mā, me haina rawa koutou i te kuhutanga mai |
Always open | Kei te tuwhera i ngā wā katoa |
Amnesty Bin | Pouaka Wā Whakawhiu Kore |
April | Paengawhāwhā/Āperira |
Arriving Flights | Rererangi Tau Mai |
Assembly point | Wāhi huihui |
August | Hereturikōkā/Ākuhata |
Automatic Teller Machine | Mīhini Moni |
Available for private functions | E wātea ana mō ngā hui motuhake |
Baby Change | Rūma Tīni Kope |
Baby Change and Unisex Toilet | Rūma Tīni Kope - Wharepaku Tāne/Wahine |
Baggage area | Wāhi Tueke |
Baggage check-in | Wāhi Whakataka Tueke |
Baggage Claim | Wāhi Kerēme Tueke |
Baggage Lockers | Kāpata Tueke |
Bar | Pae Inuinu |
Barber shop | Toa kuti makawe |
Be safe the tarmac is a hazardous place | Kia haumaru te haere - he wāhi mōrearea te ara rererangi |
Beauty salon | Whare Whakapai Āhua |
Bikes | Paihikara |
Biological hazard | Pūmate koiora |
Board Room | Rūma Poari |
Bon Appetit | Kia rongo te korokoro i te reka o te kai |
Books and Magazines | Pukapuka, Moheni |
Buses | Pahi |
By order of the … | I raro i te mana o te ... |
Cafeteria | Wharekai |
Cashier | Kaitiaki Moni |
Casual positions available | He tūranga tāmutumutu e wātea ana. |
Casual positions available. Please enquire here. | He mahi tāmutumutu e wātea ana. Ki konei koe ui mai ai. |
CAUTION | KIA TŪPATO |
Caution | Kia tūpato |
Caution - people working above | Kia tūpato - he tāngata kei runga ake e mahi ana |
Caution - wet floor | Kia tūpato - kei te mākū te papa |
Caution don't bump your head | Kia tūpato - kei whara tō mahunga |
Caution please mind the step | Kia tūpato ki te arawhata/hekenga/pikinga |
Caution tiles can be slippery when wet | Kia tūpato!, he mania ngā papariki ka mākū ana |
CAUTION! Power actuated tool in use | KIA TŪPATO E whakamahia ana he taputapu he rite ki te pū tōna ngoi |
Change Room | Rūma Tīni Kākahu |
checkouts & services | wāhi utu, wāhi āwhina |
Chief Executive | Tumuaki |
Clean cutlery and glasses | He utauta, he karaehe mā or He naihi, pāoka, pune, karaehe mā |
Clean up after yourself | Kaua e waiho mā tētahi e whakapai i muri i a koe |
Cleaner | Kaiwhakapai Whare |
Cleaners at work | Kei te mahi ngā kaitahi whare |
Close the door gently | Āta tūtakina te tatau. / Āta katia te kūwaha. |
Closed | Kati |
Closed until... | Kei te kati tae noa ki te... |
Coat Check | Iringa Koti |
Coffee Shop | Toa Kawhe |
Cold drinks | He inu mātao |
Collect coin change | Tēnā tangohia ō moniuka |
Collect notes change | Tēnā tangohia ō monipepa |
Community Pantry | Pātaka ā-Hapori |
Conference Room | Rūma Wānanga |
Couriers | He kaikawekawe utanga / He Kuria |
Cover your food (in the microwave) | Uhia ō kai (I roto I te ngaruiti) |
Credit card or EFTPOS | He kāri taurewa, te EFTPOS rānei |
Cross now | Whakawhiti ināianei |
Cross with care | Kia tūpato te whakawhiti |
Customer 2 hour parking only. All others towed away, vehicles parked at owners | Tūnga kaihoko mō te 2 hāora noa. Ka tōia ētahi atu, kei te rangatira te kawenga mō tōna waka |
Customer parking only, vehicles parked at owners risk | Tūnga kaihoko anahe, kei te rangatira ngā kawenga mō tōna waka |
Cutlery | Ngā utauta kai/ |
Cyclists dismount. Walk bicycles | Me heke pahikara. Haere mā raro me tō pahikara |
DANGER | HE MŌREAREA |
Danger construction site | He papa waihanga mōrearea |
Dangerous Goods | Taonga whakamōrea |
December | Hakihea/Tihema |
Declare or dispose. It's New Zealand law. | Whakaaturia, porowhiua rānei. Koirā te ture i Aotearoa. |
Defibrillator | Pūrere manawataki (being checked) |
Deputy Secretary | Tumuaki Tuarā |
Director | Kaiwhakahaere Matua |
Disabled access | Ara māmā, hunga hauā |
Disabled parking | Tūnga waka, hunga hauā |
Do not cross | Kaua e whakawhiti |
Do not dump rubbish here | Kaua e tukuna ngā para i konei |
Do not leave children unattended on trolleys | Kaua e waiho te tamaiti me tōna kotahi i runga tōneke |
Do not put anything in front of this door | Kaua e waiho i tetahi mea ki mua i tēnei kūaha |
Do not switch hot water Zip off | Kaua e whakaweto |
Do not use the lift if there is a fire | Ki te hika te ahi kaua e whakamahi te paparewa |
Do your own dishes. | Māu e horoi ō taputapu/rīhi |
Dogs must be on a lead | Me here tō/ō kurī ki te taura / Me pārete tō/ō kurī |
Dogs on leads; cats in cages. | Ko ngā kurī me here ki te taura; ko ngā ngeru ki te raunga waea. |
Donation box | Pouaka tuku koha |
Don't run | Kaua e oma |
Don't start. But you can finish crossing (Drivers give way to you) | Kaua e tīmata te whakawhiti. Engari whakamutua mēnā kua tīmata kē. (Ko ngā taraiwa ka tautuku.) |
Door to Door service | Ratonga Kūaha ki te Kūaha |
Downstairs | Ki raro / Kei raro |
Drinking Fountain | Puna Wai |
Drop Box | Pouaka Waihotanga |
Dry Power Fire Extinguisher | Puoto paura tinei ahi |
Ear protection must be worn | Ārai taringa |
Emergency door release. Press to activate | Tatau whawhati tata. Pēhia te kakau hei huaki. |
Emergency Exit | Putanga Whawhati Tata |
Emergency eyewash | Uwhimata whakatata |
Emergency procedures | Tikanga mate whawhati tata |
Emergency Telephone. Press Alarm button for five seconds. Await reply. | Waea Whawhati tata Pēhi te pātene Pere Ohorere mō te rima hēkona. Tāria te whakahoki. |
Enquire within | Ki konei ui ai |
Enquiries | Pātai |
Entrance | Tomokanga |
Entry | Kūaha |
Escalator - Up | Ararewa - Whakarunga |
Escalator -Down | Ararewa - Whakararo |
Escape route | Rerenga whakaora |
Exclusive VIP discounts | Whiwhinga whakaheke utu mā te VIP anake |
Exit | Putanga |
Exit to... | Te putanga ki... |
February | Huitanguru/Pēpuere |
Female Accessible Toilet | Wharepaku Wāhine, Ara Māmā |
Female Toilet | Wharepaku Wāhine |
FIRE EVACUATION ASSEMBLY POINT | WĀHI HUIHUI, RERENGA AHI |
Fire Exit | Rerenga Ahi |
Fire extinguisher | Poko ahi |
Fire hose reel | Kōrere Wai Ahi |
Fire Hose Reel | Pōkai tukuwai tinei ahi |
First Aid | Whakaora Whawhati Tata |
First aid | Whakaora whawhati tata |
First aid kit | Pouaka whakaora whawhati tata |
Flammable | Pūkākā |
For lease | Hei rīhi |
For rent | Hei rīhi |
FORKLIFT OPERATING | HE WAKA HIKIHIKI E MAHI ANA |
Free quotes | Whakatau utu kore utu |
Full-time manager wanted | E kimihia ana he kaiwhakahaere wā-poha |
Grease interceptor located here | He aukati hinu kei konei |
Haircuts | Kuti makawe |
Hairdressers | Kaikuti makawe |
Half price | Kua huaruatia te utu |
Handmade | He mea mahi ki te ringa tonu or Nā te ringa tonu i mahi/hanga |
Happy hour | Hāora harikoa / Hāora merimeri |
Has your dog pooed? Pick it up! | Kua tiko tō kuri? Kohia! |
Hazard | Pūmate |
Hazardous substance | Matū whakamōrea |
Hazards | He mōreareatanga |
Hearing equipment | Taputapu rongo |
Hearing loop | Wāhi hunga turi |
Hearing tests | Whakamātautau rongo |
Help Desk | Pae Āwhina |
Help phone | Waea kimi āwhina |
Honours board | Papa whakahōnore |
If the photocopier stops working, do something about it or tell [...], don't just leave | Mēnā kei te raruraru te pūrere tā, kimihia tētahi huarahi hei whakatika, whakamōhio atu i a [...] rānei, kaua e waiho noa |
If you are the last to leave, please turn off the lights | Mēnā ko koe te tangata ka wehe i muri i ētahi atu, tineia ngā raiti |
If you don't eat your lunch, don't leave it in the fridge | Ki te kore koe e kai i ō kai, kaua e waiho noa ki te pouaka mātao |
If you feed the monkey it will get sick and may die | Ki te whāngai koe i te makimaki, ka māuiui, ka mate pea |
If you need a dog walker I can help | Ki te hiahia tangata hīkoi kurī, māku e āwhina |
Incident support unit | Tira tautāwhi |
Information | Pārongo |
Insert coins one at a time | Kuhuna takitahitia ngā moniuka |
Insert notes flat | Kuhuna papatahitia ngā monipepa |
Insert ticket in yellow slot | Kuhuna te tīkiti ki te kāniwha kōwhai |
Inward goods | Taonga e hou mai ana |
Inwards goods and dispatch | Taonga tae mai, taonga tuku atu |
January | Kohitātea/Hānuere |
Join our VIP club | Whakapiri mai ki tō mātou karapu/rōpū VIP |
July | Hōngongoi/Hūrae |
June | Pipiri/Hune |
Keep closed | Me noho kia kati |
Keep left | Kia mau ki te mauī |
Keep right | Kia mau ki te matau |
Kerbside service | Āwhina paeara |
Key drop box/key return | Pouaka tuku kī / Pouaka whakahoki kī |
Knives forks spoons | Naihi, pāoka, pune/ |
Knives, forks and spoons | He naihi, he pāoka, he pune/ |
Landfill | Ruapara |
Library | Whare pukapuka |
Lift | Ararewa |
Lifts | Ngā ararewa |
Litter Disposal | Ipupara |
Loading Zone | Utanga waka |
Local traffic only | Mō ngā waka anake o te iwi kāinga |
Lost and Found | Paekura |
Lounge | Wāhi noho / Wāhi okioki |
Low speed while entering | Āta haere i te kuhunga mai |
Made to measure (garment) | Ka mahia kia tika te rahi mōu |
Made to order (food) | Ka mahia tāu e tono ai |
Male Accessible Toilet | Wharepaku Tāne, Ara Māmā |
Male Toilet | Wharepaku Tāne |
Man with a van and trailer | He tangata, tōna wakaroa me te wākena tō |
Manager | Kaiwhakahaere |
Manager | Kaiwhakahaere |
Manager on duty | Te pou whakahaere e mahi ana |
Māori, New Zealand Sign and English can be used in this office | Te Reo Māori, te Reo Rotarota Niu Tireni, te Reo Pākehā: ka taea i tēnei tari |
March | Poutūterangi/Maehe |
Max load XX Kg or XX persons | Kawenga mōrahi: XX kg, tāngata XX rānei |
Maximum headroom | Te teitei mai i te papa ki te tuanui |
Maximum load XXX Kg or XX people | Taumaha mutunga rawa XXXkg, XX tāngata rānei |
May | Haratua/Mei |
Meeting point | Wāhi takahuihui |
Meeting Room | Rūma Hui |
Meeting Zone | Wāhi Huihui |
Men | Tāne |
Men's | Tāne |
Monday - Friday | Rāhina - Rāmere |
New entrance this way | Whāia tēnei ara ki te tokomanga hou |
New! | E hou ana! |
No alcohol past this point | Kāore e whakaaetia te waipiro i muri i tēnei tohu |
No animals | Kaua te kararehe |
No cash held on premises | Karekau he moni i konei. |
No Deposit | Kāore He Moni Tāpui |
No Dogs | Kurī Kore |
No drugs held on premises | Karekau he pūroi i konei. |
No Entry | Kaua e hou mai |
No food is allowed in outdoor smoking area | Kāore e whakaaetia te kai ki te wāhi kai paipa i waho |
No gang insignia | Kaua te tohu kēnge |
No hawkers | Kāore e whakaaetia te kaihoko i konei |
No ID, no service – no exceptions | Ki te kore tō Mana Tuakiri, e kore e āwhinatia – korekore rawa |
No interest | Kāore he huamoni |
No left Turn | Kāore he huri mauī |
No one around? Ring the bell and we’ll be right out. | Kāore he tangata i konei? Tangihia te pere, taihoa ake puta ai tētahi |
No repayments | Kāore he utunga |
No right turn | Kāore he huri matau |
No skateboards | Kaua te papawīra |
No Smoking | Auahi Kore |
No sunglasses | Kaua ngā mōhiti rā |
No tobacco or cigarettes held on premises | Karekau he tupeka, he hikareti rānei i konei |
No unaddressed mail please | Kaua e tukuna mai ngā pānui mā te marea |
November | Whiringa-ā-rangi/Noema |
October | Whiringa-ā-nuku/Oketopa |
Open | Kua tuwhera |
Open 7 days 8.30am - 8pm | E tuwhera ana i te 7 rā, 8.30 i te ata - 8 i te ahiahi |
Open again on Monday 8.30am | E tuwhera ana anō ā te Rāhina, 8.30 i te ata |
Open for lunch/breakfast/dinner | Kua tuwhera mō te kai o te rānui/ o te ata/ o te pō |
Open late | Ka roa e tuwhera ana |
Open Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm | E tuwhera ana Rāhina-Rāmere, 8.30 i te ata - 5.00 i te ahiahi |
Opening hours | Hāora tuwhera |
Parent & child | Mātua me te tamaiti |
Parent and Child Toilets | Wharepaku Mātua/Tamariki |
Parents Room | Rūma Mātua |
Part-time manager wanted | E kimihia ana he pou whakahaere harangote |
Part-time positions available | He tūranga harangote e wātea ana. |
Passengers only past this point | Ko te hunga haere anake ki tua o tēnei pānui |
Pay here | Ki konei utu ai |
Pay nothing for 18 months | Kaua e utu mō te 18 marama |
Pay Station | Pae Utu |
Permanent positions available. Enquire within. | He tūranga pūmau e wātea ana. Haere ki roto, ui ai. |
Pharmacy | Whare Rongoā |
Plant Room | Rūma Mīhini Whare |
Please do not dump goods for donation outside opening hours | Kaua e tuku taonga mai i waho o ngā hāora tuwhera |
Please don't slam the door | Kaua e ākina te kūaha |
Please don't slam the door. Close it quietly. | Kaua e ākina te kūaha. Āta katia. / Āta tūtakina. |
Please keep clear of dockway | Me wātea te pae utanga |
Please mind the step | Kia tūpato ki te arawhata/hekenga/pikinga |
Please pick up your dog’s poo | Tēnā, kohia ngā tiko a tō kuri |
Please pick up your dog's poo and put it in the bin | Tēnā kohia ngā tūtae o tō kurī, ka tuku ai ki te ipu para |
Please push button and wait | Tēnā pēhia te pātene, ka tatari ai |
Please put used cutlery and glasses here | Waiho ngā naihi, ngā paoka, ngā pune me ngā karaehe paruparu ki konei / Ki konei ngā utauta paruparu |
Please ring the bell | Ringihia koa te pere |
Please ring the bell | Tēnā whakatangihia te pere |
Please take one | Haria tētahi |
Please use handrail | Kia mau te ringa ki te rōau |
Please use other door | Mā tērā atu kūaha kuhu mai ai |
Please wait to be seated | Taihoa koe ka ārahina ki te tēpu tika |
Police | Pirihimana |
Prices dropped for good/Permanent reductions | Kua heke pūmau ngā utu / Whakahekenga utu pūmau |
Private | Tūmataiti |
Private function | Hui tūmataiti |
Pull | Kumea |
Push | Peia |
Queue here | Whakarārangi ki konei |
Ramp | Rōnaki |
Reasonable rates | He rēti pai |
Reception | Kiripaepae |
Recycled fashion clothing | Kākahu ringarua / Kākahu hangarua |
Recycling | Hangarua |
Register your email for even more exclusive offers | Rēhitatia mai tō īmēra kia nui noa ake ngā whiwhinga |
Remain behind barrier | Noho ki muri i te ārai |
Rental Cars | Motukā Rīhi |
Resources | Rauemi |
Restroom | Wharepaku |
Scooters | Kutarere |
Security area | Pae tāhaumaru |
September | Mahuru/Hepetema |
Shops | Toa |
Shower | Tāuwhiuwhi |
Sick Bay | Rūma Hunga Māuiui |
Sign up now | Waituhi mai ināianei |
Sliding Door | Kūaha Kōneke |
Slippery Surface | Papa Mania |
Smoke Stop Door | Kūaha Ārai Auahi |
Smoking Room/Smoking Area | Rūma Kaipaipa/Wāhi Kaipapa |
Sold | Kua hokona |
Sold by ...(name) | He mea hoko nā... / I hokona e... |
Sorry we are closed | Kua kati |
Special | Whakahekenga utu |
Staff Only | Kaimahi Anake |
Staff parking only; all others towed away | Tūnga waka kaimahi anake; ka tōia ētahi atu |
Stairs-Down | Arapiki - Whakararo |
Stairs-Up | Arapiki - Whakarunga |
Stairway | Pikitanga |
Start earning rewards today | Kia tīmata i te rangi nei te puta o ngā painga. |
Start here | Ki konei tīmata ai |
Stationary cupboard | Kapata hanga tuhituhi |
Stationery | Hanga tuhituhi |
Steps | Tepe |
Stop (button on escalator) | Whakatūria |
Storage | Rokinga |
Storeroom | Rokiroki |
Switchgear | Papahiko |
Take the lift/stairs to the... | Haere mā te ararewa/arawhata ki te... |
Tally Board | Papa Tatau |
Taxi | Tekehī |
Taxi restricted parking zone begins | Ka tīmata i konei te rohe tekehī kore |
Taxi restricted parking zone begins | Kaua ngā wakatono e tū ki konei |
Team Leader | Kaiārahi Matua |
Team member of the month | Te tino kaimahi o te tīma mō te marama |
Telephone | Waea |
There is a defibrillator on floor [X] | He pūrere manawataki kei te papa [X] |
This is a shared space. Cyclists slow for bus bypasses – pedestrians crossing | He wāhi tini waka, tini tāngata. Kia āta haere te pahikara ki ngā huarahi pahi – ki te hunga whakawhiti rori |
This way please | Haere mā konei |
Tip runs | Ara putunga para |
Toilet | Wharepaku |
Try today | Whakamātauria i te rangi nei / Hei whakamātau māu i te rangi nei |
Uneven Surface | Papa Pāhiwihiwi |
Unisex Toilet | Wharepaku Tāne/Wāhine |
Unisex Toilet Baby Change | Wharepaku Tāne/Wāhine - Rūma Tīni Kope |
Upstairs | Ki/Kei te papa o runga ake |
Use gloves when handling food | Whakamaua ngā karapu i a koe e whakarite kai ana |
Use Handrail | Kia mau ki te rōau |
Vegan meals | He kai mā te kaiota |
Vegetarian and Vegan meals | He kai mā te kaimanga me te kaiota |
Vegetarian meals | He kai mā te kaimanga |
Visitors' book | Pukapuka manuhiri |
Waiting Room | Rūma Tatari |
Warning! Multiple hazard area. | Whakatūpato! He wāhi tini mōrearea. |
WARNING. Video Surveillance in use | KIA MATAARA. He karu ataata kei te mātaki i a koe |
Wash your hands | Horoia ō ringaringa |
Waste placed in this bin is sorted for recycling | Ko ngā para ka raua ki tēnei ipu, ka wehewehea kia hangaruatia ai ngā mea e taea ana |
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by these building works. | E whakapāha ana i te pōrearea o ēnei mahi waihanga. |
We are closing down | Taihoa ka kati te whare nei |
We are happy to speak Māori or English or... | Pai noa iho ki a mātou te kōrero Māori, te kōrero Pākehā, te kōrero ... rānei |
We cater | He tunu kai, he hora kai tā mātou mahi |
We don't sell tobacco to under 18s | Kāore mātou e hoko tupeka ki te hunga kāore anō kia 18 ngā tau |
We have relocated to ... | Kua nuku matou ki ... |
We love it when people speak Māori to us - please do so and we will keep up as | Pārekareka ana ina kōrero Māori mai ētahi ki a mātou. |
We take jokes about security seriously. Police/authorities will be informed and criminal charges may apply | Mō te taha ki te haumarutanga e kore mātou e rata ki te tinihanga. Ka whākina atu ngā Pirihimana/mana, ka whiua pea i raro i te ture |
Welcome to… | Nau mai ki... |
Wet Area | Wāhi Mākū |
Wet Floors | Papa Mākū |
Wi Fi area | Wāhi Wi Fi |
Women | Wāhine |
Women's | Wāhine |
X% off | Kua mukua tētahi X% o te utu. |
Yes we are open | Āe, e tuwhera ana te whare nei. |
You are required by law to pick up your dog’s poo | I raro i te ture me tiki koe i te tiko a tō kuri |
...11th/ | ...papa 11/ |
...12th floor | ...papa 12/ |
...accepted here | E whakaaetia ana i konei... |
...eighth/ | ..papa tuawaru/ |
...fifth/ | ...papa tuarima/ |
...first/ | ...papa tuatahi/ |
...fourth/ | ...papa tuawhā/ |
...ground/ | ...ki te papa/ |
...has been awarded an excellent/very good/good food hygiene grade | Kua whakawhiwhia a [ingoa/name] ki te tohu kairangi/tino pai/pai mō te mā me te haumaru o ngā tikanga taka kai |
...ninth/ | ...papa tuaiwa/ |
...second/ | ...papa tuarua/ |
...seventh/ | ...papa tuawhitu/ |
...six/ | ...papa tuaono/ |
...third/ | ...papa tuatoru/ |
..tenth/ | ...papa tuangahuru/ |
10% off on your birthday | Tangohia te 10% ā tō rā whānau |
15 minutes maximum | Kia kaua e roa ake i te 15 meneti |
24 hour camera surveillance in operation | He kāmera e mahi ana i ngā wā katoa |