hia
1. (numeral) how many? - combines with e, kia, toko-, ka and tua- to mean 'how many are there?' (e hia?); 'how many are wanted?' (kia hia?); how many people are there (tokohia?); 'how many?/how long?' (ka hia?); and 'how many?' (kia tuahia?).
E hia āu kurī? / How many dogs are there?
Kia toru māku. Kia hia māu, e Toi? (TWK 23:21). / Three for me. How many for you, Toi?
Tokohia ngā tāngata i tae mai ki te hui? / How many people came to the meeting?
Ka hia ngā tau ia e ngaro atu ana ki rāwāhi? / How long has she been away overseas?
Kia tuahia hainatanga i te Tiriti? (TTT 1/4/1925:213). / How many times was the Treaty signed?
2. (numeral) how long?.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 5, 16, 63; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 63-64, 146;)
E hia te roa o te pahi e tū ana ki Rotorua? / How long is the bus stopping at Rotorua?
Ka hia te roa tātau e mahi ana i tēnei mahi? / How long have we been doing this job?
