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.
I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.Ka whakamau atu au i te kope mā.
I'll put a fresh nappy on.Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Kei kō atu te ngahere i te awa.
The bush is beyond the river.Pātai atu ki te pirihimana.
Ask the police officer.I te ono karaka, kua tae atu rātou ki Ōmihi.
By six o'clock they had got to Ōmihi.Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.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.Ka tae atu rāua ki Ōtautahi.
They arrived there in Christchurch.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.Kuhu atu te kī ki raro i te takapau.
Hide the key under the mat.Kōrero atu ki a Rangi.
Speak to Rangi.Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.Inahea koe i haere atu ai ki te tāone?
When did you go to town?Te rongonga atu o Ari i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Ari heard what his sister said...I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Te Tai Tokerau?
When did you leave for the Northland region?Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.Ka tangi atu te manu ki ana hoa.
The bird calls to his friends.Hei āpōpō au tae atu ai.
I will come tomorrow.Tae rawa atu te whānau ki te hōhipera, kua hoki kē te koroua ki tōna kāinga.
By the time the family arrived at the hospital, the old man had already gone home.Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.Whakaae atu ana a Te Tahi.
Te Tahi agreed.Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.Tokomaha i haere atu ki tōna tangihanga.
Many went to her funeral.Kei te haere atu ngā tamariki ki korā.
The children are going away over there.Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Manu ki a Tawa.
Manu passes the ball to Tawa.