exclamation
New ZealandA Maori greeting addressed to three or more people.
‘I say tena koutou, greetings to you all’- ‘I would just like to say tena koutou.’
- ‘They all stood up in here, wearing the biggest bone carvings they could, hunched up over their desks, and said: "Tena koutou, I acknowledge the Maori people in my area."’
- ‘Therefore, we support this bill and we pay our respects: tena koutou.’
- ‘I say greetings to them all—tena koutou.’
- ‘Tena koutou to members and Mr Chairperson as we gather for this important stage of the legislation.’
- ‘First I would like to acknowledge, as the minister did, your presence and to say simply tena koutou.’
- ‘To all who have come down here today to witness this very, very important occasion, I say tena koutou.’
- ‘So, tena koutou, and I shall leave the closing address from our party to the eloquence of my colleague.’
- ‘I wish to begin my remarks by speaking in the official language of this country: Tena koutou!’
- ‘It is on that principle that I greet you here tonight—tena koutou.’
Origin
Mid 19th century Maori, literally ‘there you are’.
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