ki a [koe] (rā) hoki
1. what's with you, what's wrong with you, what's the matter with you - an idiom used to express the opinion that an idea or something someone has done is a little strange or surprising. May be used to show disapproval.
Moana: Kua kore au e āwhina i a ia. Mere: Ki a koe hoki! Ko ia tō hoa. / Moana: I won't help her. Mere: What's the matter with you! She's your friend.
Uru: Kāore māua e pai ki te toa rā - he Īnia hoki ngā rangatira. Pare: Ki a kōrua hoki! He aha te mate o te Īnia? (HJ 2012:31). / Uru: We don't like that shop - the owners are Indians. Pare: What's the matter with you two! What's the problem with Indians?
2. (particle) Used before personal pronouns (except ahau) when they follow i, ki, hei and kei. NB a is pronounced long before koe and ia.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 57, 83, 102;)
3. (particle) Used before place names and location words when they stand as subject of the sentence.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 24-25;)
4. (particle) Sometimes used as a literary device before words that would normally be used as nouns or verbs.
Kāti, kua huri te ihu o tōu ake waka ki Waitematā i runga anō i te āki a rūrūtake, a wheori (HM 2/1992:1). / Well, the prow of your canoe has turned towards Waitematā because of the urging of shaking and quivering of old age.
