kaha Play
1. (verb) to be strong, able, capable, courageous, intense, energetic.
Kia kaha te mahi! / Work energetically!
Kua tino kaha kē tana hokohoko i waenganui i ngā kaipuke o ngā Pākehā; i kaha anō tana hiahia kia noho mai ngā Pākehā ki tōna takiwā (TTR 1990:116). / He was already heavily involved in trading with the ships of the Pākehā, and had a strong desire for Pākehā to settle in his area.
2. (verb) to be loud.
Kei te whakamoemiti atu te manu meroiti nei ki ētahi o ana kaitautoko e whiu mai nei i ngā hua kāramuramu hei oranga mōna kia kaha ai tana korokī i runga i tōna pae (KO 15/5/1885:4). / This small bird is thanking some of its sponsers who have tossed some karamū berries as sustenance so that its call on its perch will be loud.
3. (adjective) be strong, able, capable, courageous, intense, energetic.
He wahine ātaahua, he kaha ki te mahi (HP 1991:24). / She was a beautiful woman, who worked hard.
4. (modifier) sheer, utter, constant, overwhelming - used to intensify or add emphasis to the quality or action when it is placed before another base, usually a verb or adjective. Does not usually follow immediately after a verb.
I te kaha mamae o tōna waewae, ka totitoti haere te kuia ki te rata. / Because her leg was so sore, the elderly lady limped off to the doctor.
(Te Māhuri
Textbook (Ed. 2):
65-66;)
5. (noun) ability, power, strength, energy, stamina, intensity, volume (sound), magnitude.
I tino whakamihi a Te Taute ki a Ngāti Porou mō tō rātou kaha ki te whakapai i ō rātou whenua, ki te whakatupu hipi, mō te papai o ā rātou teihana hipi, o ā rātou wūruheti (TP 12/1907:11). / Mr Stout gave great praise to Ngāti Porou for their energy in improving their land, raising sheep and for the good state of their sheep stations and woolsheds.
