Kia ora ano!

This week I cover something I have always struggled with. Even while prepping for this episode I found it difficult to understand the nuances of prepositions. Basically understanding the differences between 'Ki runga i', Ki runga ki', and all the various forms. Hopefully what I have to say would've been somewhat helpful to you. I source from Ngapuhi author Hare Hongi (Henry Matthew Stowell), and his book, Stowell, H. M. Maori-English Tutor and Vade Mecum. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs, 1911.

[pg. 15]

ON THE PREPOSITIONS.

RUNGA, up, upon, the top :

Ki runga ki te puke, up on to the hill.

Ko runga ko te puke, to be upon the hill.

Kei runga kei te puke, is upon the hill.

Hei runga hei te puke, for to be upon the hill.

I runga i te puke, was upon the hill.

To runga i te puke, that of the hill-top.

runga o te puke, those of the hill-top.

No runga no te puke, from upon the hill.

Mo runga mo te puke, for upon the hill.

Ko runga o te puke, the top of the hill is.

Te Wiremu First Lessons also speaks briefly on it. (First Lessons in the Maori Language, with a Short Vocabulary. W.L. Williams)

[pg 51.]

Series 1.

Ki runga ki, }

I runga i, } upon, on the top of.

Kei runga kei, }

Hei runga hei, }

No runga no, from upon, i. e. belonging to the top of.

I runga i, from upon, with special idea of motion from.

Mo runga mo, for the top of.

Ma runga ma, over, by the top of (direction)

Ko runga ko, to the top of.

Series 2.

Ki runga i, }

I runga i, } above, over.

Kei runga i, }

Hei runga i, }

No runga i, from above, i. e. belonging to that situation.

I runga i, from above, implying motion from.

Mo runga i, for above, i. e. to be above.

Ma runga i, by above, over, (of direction).

Ko runga i, to above, over.

Here are the questions I put together. Square brackets are what is given by Hare Hongi.

Question: Kei te aha koe?

Answer: Kei te haere [ki runga, ki te puke.]

Question: Ko whea atu koe?

Answer: [ko runga, ko te puke.]

Question: Hei te taone koe?

Answer: Kahore, [hei runga, hei te puke.]

Question: I whea koe?

Answer: [i runga, i te puke.]

Question: He aha tera?

Answer: [To runga o te puke]? He pa.

Question: He aha era?

Answer: [O runga o te puke]? He patupaiarehe.

Question: No whea mai aua rakau?

Answer: [No runga, no te puke.]

Question: He aha e kawe na koe he wai?

Answer: [Mo runga, mo te puke.]

Question: Ko whea te wahi ra?

Answer: [Ko runga o te puke]? Ko Puketiketike.

Question: Hei ahatia tenei te wai nei?

Answer: Hei whakamakuku [a runga o te puke].

Question: Ma whea atu taua?

Answer: [Ma runga, ma te puke.]