Māori Grammar
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There are four directional markers in te reo Māori:
mai - towards me
atu - away from me
ake - up
iho - down
Atu is used to describe action away from the speaker.
Haere atu!
Go away.
Me kōrero atu koe.
You should speak to someone else.
You speak over there (away from me).
Literally: You should speak away.
Kei te haere atu a Hone.
John is going away.
Atu is also used as an intensifier, especially when used with rawa:
He tino pai rawa atu tōu reo.
Your voice is very good indeed.
Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.Tae atu a Ponga ki tana taha.
Ponga reached her side.Kuhu atu te kī ki raro i te takapau.
Hide the key under the mat.Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Te rongonga atu o Pāora i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Pāora heard what his sister said...Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Whakatū?
When did you leave for Nelson?Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Te taunga rawatanga atu o Paki i te waka, ka tīmata ia ki te kaukau.
As soon as Paki jumped out of the boat, he began swimming.Tokomaha i haere atu ki tōna tangihanga.
Many went to her funeral.Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...Ka whakamau atu au i te kope mā.
I'll put a fresh nappy on.Kōrero atu ki a Niko.
Speak to Niko.Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Nikau ki a Amaru.
Nikau passes the ball to Amaru.