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.
E tāria atu nei a tuahangata.
The man of the moment is being waited for.Ka haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Pāora ki a Hēmi.
Pāora passes the ball to Hēmi.Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Kuhu atu te kī ki raro i te takapau.
Hide the key under the mat.I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Te Tai Tokerau?
When did you leave for the Northland region?Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...E oma atu ā tāua tamariki hōhā.
Our exasperating children are running away.Kōrero atu ki a Ataahua.
Speak to Ataahua.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Whakaae atu ana a Te Tahi.
Te Tahi agreed.Ka whakamau atu au i te kope mā.
I'll put a fresh nappy on.Tae atu a Ponga ki tana taha.
Ponga reached her side.Āta hīkoi atu kei kuhu ō waewae ki te paru.
Walk carefully so you don't step in the mud.Tokomaha i haere atu ki tōna tangihanga.
Many went to her funeral.Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.Te rongonga atu o Tawa i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Tawa heard what his sister said...Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Hoki atu ki te rūma rā!
Return to that room!Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.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 mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.