tena koe

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

a Maori salutation used in North Island ofNew Zealand. Lit. «That is you,» and meaning «How do you do?»


Tena and Tera both mean ` that'; but tena implies the idea of nearness, `that near you,' tera the idea of distance, `that (or there) awayyonder.' Hence, while Tena koe is a welcome, Tera koewould be an insult.