Kei hea ...?

Asking the question 'Where is...?' is quite simple. Let's look at the structure.  In te reo Māori we need a preposition, a question word and the thing that we want to know the location of.

Preposition + question + subject

Kei hea te kapu?   = Where is the cup?

So, asking the question is quite straightforward.  What about the answer? Well to say where something else is we need a few key words. These are called 'locatives' or 'location nouns'.  You probably already know some of these without even realising it. 

One of the karakia that peoplke use at the beginning of mihi, or to start the day is this one;

Notice the coloured words.  You may also know 'roto' and 'waho' from breathing and relaxation activities that you do - 'Hā ki roto, hā ki waho' - 'breathe in, breathe out.'

But what how do they work when we say where something is? 

Let's break that sentence down and look at all the elements in the structure of the sentence.

Preposition + locative/location noun + subject + i + place

Kei runga te kapu i te tēpu. = The cup is on the table

Sometimes we need to ask where someone is.  The question is formed in the same way;

Kei hea a Arahia? = Where is Arahia?

Notice though that there is an additional word - for people we have to add in an 'a'.  The answer is formed in the same way. If Arahia is outside we would simply say;

Kei waho a Arahia - Arahia is outside.

If we want to add more detail, the sentence structure is the same as for objects;

Kei waho a Arahia i te ruma  - Arahia is outside the room.

What do these sentences mean? 

Kei te kura a Hoana

Kei Tamaki Makaurau a Rahera

Kei te wharepaku a Wiremu

Kei te akomanga a Tīmoti

Kei Te Puru a Anaru

Demonstrative pronouns are used to provide greater detail about where soemthing is in relation to the speaker or the listener.

So if you ask where the books are, I might say 'They are here', or "They are over there'. 

Kei hea ngā pukapuka?

Kei kōnei ngā pukapuka - the books are here (by the speaker) 

Kei kōnā ngāt pukapuka - the books are there(by listener)

Kei kōrā ngā pukapuka - the books are over there (in the distance)

Read more about locatives and location nouns in this article and on this website

This article offers some more information about location nouns

This article talks about position particles - nei, nā and rā . 

Demonstrative Pronouns