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tena koe

Tena koe is a formal Maori greeting used when addressing a single person — think of it as the te reo equivalent of 'greetings to you.' In New Zealand it appears in schools, workplaces, and official settings as part of the country's biculturalism.

ˌteˈna kweː195 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

Tena koe is a formal Maori greeting used when addressing a single person — think of it as the te reo equivalent of 'greetings to you.' In New Zealand it appears in schools, workplaces, and official settings as part of the country's biculturalism. It's respectful and warm, marking the speaker as someone who honours Maori language and custom.

She opened the presentation with tena koe and the whole room felt a little more connected.
Origin: From te reo Maori: tena (there, that near you) + koe (you, singular). Used in formal greeting contexts. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(New Zealand) A greeting (to a single person).

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