nei
1. (particle) here - used after nouns, location words, pronouns and personal names to indicate position or connection with the speaker or the principal character in a narrative. Like the other two locative particles, nā and rā, it follows manner particles (i.e. kau, kē, noa, rawa and tonu) and directional particles (i.e. mai, atu, iho and ake) in the phrase if they are present.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 44;)
See also neki
2. (particle) Also used to imply nearness to the present time, or a time or event just referred to.
Ka whakawhiti rāua ki Te Ika-a-Māui i te rā nei. / They cross to the North Island today.
I karangahia tēnei ko Te Heke Hauhaua, ā, ko Te Kāeaea tonu tētahi o ngā rangatira. Koia nei pea te wā i hoki ai a ia ki Te Wairarapa (TTR 1990:202). / This was called Te Heke Hauhaua and Te Kaeaea was one of the leaders. This was probably the time that he returned to Wairarapa.
3. (particle) who, that, which - when used in dependent clauses to refer to something or someone just mentioned.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;)
Ko Hōri te tangata e tū atu nei. / The man who is standing here is George.
4. (particle) Used following au, māua, mātou when giving opinions, etc.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 85-86;)
Ki a au nei, kāore a Nāhinara e rata ana ki te iwi Māori. / In my opinion, the National Party isn't kindly disposed towards the Māori people.
5. (particle) Used following possessive determiners to imply that the thing possessed is nearby, or for emphasis.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 85-86;)
Ki ōku nei whakaaro, kāore he take o tēnei Kāwanatanga. / In my opinion this Government is useless.
7. (particle) Used before koa and rā to introduce explanatory sentences.
Ka haere mātou ko aua tupua ki roto ki te awa o Whitianga, nei koa, he tokotoko i te ringaringa o ētahi o rātou mau haere ai (TAH 52:45). / Then we and those foreigners went up the Whitianga River. Now some of them carried rods in their hands
8. (particle) here - often starts a sentence.
Nei ka noho, ka noho, ka mahuki ake a whakaaro tērā pea ka whai hua tonu te wero atu ki te pātai, "He aha ia tēnei mea, te mātauranga Māori?" (HM 1/1998:2) / Here I sit and sit, and thoughts spring to mind that perhaps there is value in challenging with the question, "Just what is this thing Māori knowledge?"
9. (particle) on and on - used to indicate a long duration when the phrase with nei is repeated.
Ka mea atu tērā, "Waiho rā kia toru hoki ngā pō e rere ai, ā, ka kore e kitea te whenua, ka hoki ai tātou." Ka whakaae mai ngā hoa. I rere nei, rere nei. Kua tata ki te whenua (MM.TKM 1/11/1855:9). / That one said, "Let us wait and sail for three more nights and if we not don't find land we will return." The companions agreed. So they sailed on and on. Then they were near land.
Synonyms: haere ake nei, mau ake nei, āke, ake, ake
