Nō hea ia? (Where is he/she from?)
Scenario
We meet creatures from all around the world, but our final creature is not of this earth; he is from outer space.
Language Focus
You will learn how to ask about where someone comes from, for example, ‘Nō hea ia?’ (Where is s/he from?)
You will also learn how to respond when asked that question, for example, ‘Nō Hāmoa ia’ (S/he’s from Samoa).
Tikanga
In Māori culture, it is more appropriate to ask someone where they’re from than it is to ask about their job, for example. People’s connectedness to a place is very important.
Transcript and Translation
| Speaker | Māori | English |
| Rōpū tamariki (off-screen) | Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? |
| Nō Ahitereiria ia. | S/he’s from Australia. | |
| Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? | |
| Nō Āwherika ia. | S/he’s from Africa. | |
| Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? | |
| Nō Haina ia. | S/he’s from China. | |
| Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? | |
| Nō Kaikōura ia. | S/he’s from Kaikōura. | |
| Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? | |
| Nō Kānata ia. | S/he’s from Canada. | |
| Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? | |
| Nō Hāmoa ia. | S/he’s from Samoa. | |
| Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? | |
| Nō Aotearoa ia. | S/he’s from New Zealand. | |
| Nō hea ia? | Where’s s/he from? | |
| Nō tuarangi ia. | S/he’s from outer space. |
