Māori Grammar
| Previous | Back | Next |
Nō reira and nā reira are conjuctions meaning "therefore".
A conjunction is a word that joins two parts of a sentence together. In English there are many conjunctions such as "and", "because", "although", "however", "nevetheless", etc.
In reo Māori there are also a number of conjunctions including:
ā - and
engari - but
mehemea - if
nā te mea - because
Often nō reira and nā te mea can be used to express the same idea in alternative ways:
Kua oti taku mahi nō reira kei te harikoa ahau.
My work is finished, therefore I'm happy.
Kei te harikoa ahau nā te mea kua oti taku mahi.
I am happy because my work is finished.
He māmā tēnei mahi nō reira kei te harikoa ahau.
This work is easy, therefore I am happy.He uaua tēnei mahi nō reira kei te pōuri ahau.
This work is hard, therefore I am sad.Kei rohe kē taku whānau nō reira kei te mokemoke ahau.
My family is in another region, therefore I am lonely.Kua oti taku mahi nō reira kei te koa ahau.
My work is finished, therefore I'm happy.Nō reira tēnā koutou!
Therefore, greetings to you all!Nā reira taua wāhi i karangatia ai ko Puketapu.
Because of that, that place was called Puketapu.He hui āku ki Kawatiri, nō reira me haere au i nāianei.
I have a meeting in Westport, so I have to go now.Kei konei koutou nō reira kei te pukuriri ahau.
You are here, therefore I am angry.