What is a rerekaimahi? A rerekaimahi is similar to the reremahi in the way that they both shows action. The difference between the two is that the rerekaimahi focuses on the doer (person performing action). The basic rerekaimahi structure is made up of 5 main parts which are;

Nā/Mā = All rerekaimahi sentences start with these two kupu

Kaimahi = Doer (of the action)

Taunga = subject (receiver of action)

i/e = connector

Tūmahi = Verb

The basic action phrase looks look this:

TENSE = PAST

Nā + Kaimahi + Taunga + i + Tūmahi

Nā + Doer (of the action) + Subject (receiver of action) + i + Verb

OR

TENSE = FUTURE

Mā + Kaimahi + Taunga + e + Tūmahi

Mā + Doer (of the action) + Subject (receiver of action) + e + Verb

Lets look at some examples using the kaimahi tama or boy the taunga motokā or car and the tūmahi horoi or clean.

Nā te tama te motokā i horoi It was the boy who washed the car OR the boy washed the car

Mā te tama te motokā e horoi It will be the boy who washes the car OR the boy will wash the car

The doer or kaimahi is the person or thing that performs the action in a rerekaimahi. It is important to understand that the kaimahi we use in rerekaimahi are used differently to the reremahi structure. The three main kaimahi we will be using are;

Tūingoa = nouns

Ingoa = names

Tūkapi = pronouns

The taunga or receiver of the action is similar to the kaimahi, most of the time it is neither a name, noun or pronoun. The three main kaimahi we will be using are;

Tūingoa = nouns

Ingoa = names

Tūkapi = pronouns

To help you understand it better I will give you an example.

Nā Matua Kane ngā tauira i whakaako.

Matua taught the students.

In the above sentence Matua Kane is the person performing the action of teaching, the receiver of that action are his students.

Tūmahi or verbs are words that show action. In rerekaimahi we only use tūmahi whiti.

Tūmahi whiti are verbs that need an object to complete itself. These verbs pass the action from doer to object.