1. (verb) (-tia) how? how about? what about? of what sort? of what nature? treat in what way? act in what way? - an interrogative which can be used as an adjective or an ordinary verb and may be used passively. In colloquial speach a particle preceding pēhea at the start of a sentence may be omitted, but in formal writing it should be included.

(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 1, 32, 99; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 63-64;)