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.
Whakaae atu ana a Te Tahi.
Te Tahi agreed.Kua tae atu te tokorua nei ki te wharekai.
The pair have arrived at the restaurant.Whakapangia atu ki muri rawa o te pouaka.
Stick it to the far side of the box.Kuhu atu ki roto i tō moenga.
Get in your bed.I whai atu a ia i te ahi kāpara.
He followed [her] by means of the burning torch.Kōrero atu ki a Manu.
Speak to Manu.Mauria atu te pukapuka rā!
Bring me that book!Tae atu a Ponga ki tana taha.
Ponga reached her side.Kia tīkina atu he whakataukī e hāngai ana kī tēnei kaupapa...
Let me grab a proverb...Mauria atu te ika nei!
Take this fish away!I nahea koe i wehe atu ai ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara?
When did you leave for Wellington?Hei āpōpō haere atu ai au ki te tāone.
Tomorrow I am going to town.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.Oma atu i a ia!
Run away from her!Pātai atu ki a Matua Kūkara.
Ask Uncle Google.Hoki atu ki tērā kokonga.
Go back to that corner over there.Te rongonga atu o Koa i te kōrero a tana tuahine...
When Koa heard what his sister said...Haria atu tēnei ki a Pāpā.
Take this to Daddy.Ka pangaa atu to pāoro e Ari ki a Pāora.
Ari passes the ball to Pāora.Tīkina atu he miraka, he paraoa hoki.
Get some milk and some bread too.Kua tae atu koe ki Te Rerenga Wairua?
Have you been to Cape Reinga.Ka whakamau atu au i te kope mā.
I'll put a fresh nappy on.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 haere atu ia.
She moved away (she left).Tīkina atu tō pāpā!
Go and get your father!Pātai atu ki te kaihoko mō te utu.
Ask the salesperson for the price.Ka heare tonu atu nei ahau.
I'll go right now.E tama, mauria atu he tūru māna.
Hey boy, take a chair for her.Katia atu te kuaha.
Shut the door to keep the outside noise out!Whakarongo atu!
Listen (out for something)!Ka mutu te hui, ka haere atu ngā manuhiri ki te whare kai.
When the meeting ended, the visitors went to the eating house.Mihi atu ki ōu kaumātua.
Greet your elders.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.