rā
1. (particle) over there, there, yonder - used after nouns, location words, pronouns and personal names to indicate position or connection not near or connected with the speaker or listener or the principal characters in a narrative. It may indicate a spacial distance, or a distance in past or future time as discussed below. Like the other two locative particles, nā and nei, 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;)
Kātahi anō te tangata rā ka puta mai. / The man over there has just appeared.
2. (particle) Used to imply distance from the present time, either in the past or future.
Ka mahi rātou i runga anō i ngā tikanga o mua rā. / They worked in accordance with the customs of earlier times.
Tēnei ka rongo au kua whakaae a Tā Hōri Kerei kia tū tēnei Pire i tēnei tau anō, engari hei tērā tau rā anō whakatūturutia ai hei Ture (TWMNT 2/11/1875:260). / I heard that Sir George Grey has agreed that this Bill should be passed this year, but that its final passing into law should be next year.
3. (particle) that, which, who - when used in relative clauses after the verb. The verb will be preceded by i or e.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120;)
Kei te tika tonu ngā kōrero mō ngā tohorā i ārahi atu rā i te waka, i a Tākitimu. / The narratives about the whales that guided the Tākitimu canoe there are quite correct.
4. (particle) I wonder - an intensifier especially used with questions.
5. (particle) Sometimes used in close association with the same locative particle, or another, for emphasis e.g. rā rā.
Mutu rawa tōna waiata, ka whakatarunatia kia titiro te iwi nei ki te moana, ka karanga, “Ka puta rā rā! Ka puta rā rā!” (M 2004:160). / After singing her song, she enticed the people to look towards the sea, calling out, “There it goes! There it goes!”
6. (particle) Used as an intensive in greetings and requests.
