Announcing Appearances in Te Reo Māori

The Chief High Court Judge/Te Kaiwhakawa Matua, the Hon Justice Venning, has advised that counsel should feel free to introduce themselves in te reo provided they also introduce themselves in English. His Honour noted that judges are familiar with the introductions and translations used by Crown Law.

The Solicitor-General and Crown Law have provided the following introductions and translations for announcing appearances in Māori. 

Please refer to the attached pronunciation guide. For more information and help with pronunciation, join our webinar on 12 March 2019. 

Maori

 

English

Simple

  
   
E te kaiwhakawā, tēnā koe. Ko [name] tōku ingoa. Kei konei ahau mō te Karauna To the Judge, greetings. My name is  [name]    I am here for the Crown
   
E te Kōti ko [name] ahau. Kei kōnei ahau mō te Kaikaro May it please the court, counsel’s name is [name]. I appear for the defendant
   
E te Kōti ko [name] ahau. Kei kōnei ahau mō te Kaiwhakahē May it please the court, counsel’s name is [name]. I appear for the respondent
   

More Complex

  
   
Multiple Judges:  
E nga kaiwhakawā, tēnā koutou. Ko [name] tōku ingoa. Kei konei ahau mō te Karauna  To the Judges (three or more), greetings. My name is …. . I am here for the Crown
   
Multiple respondents  

E te Kōti ko [name] ahau. Kei kōnei ahau mō te Kaiwhakahē tuarua*

 May it please the court, counsel’s name is [name]. I appear for the second respondent
   
E te Kōti ko [name] ahau. Kei kōnei ahau mō te Kaiwhakahē tuatahi  May it please the court, counsel’s name is [name]. I appear for the first respondent
   
E te Kōti ko [name] ahau. Kei kōnei ahau mō te Kaiwhakahē tuatahi rāua ko te Kaiwhakahē tuarua  May it please the court, counsel’s name is [name]. I appear for the first and second respondents
   
Appearing with Juniors   
E te kaiwhakawā, tēnā koe. Ko [own name] ahau. Kei konei maua ko [junior’s name] mō te Karauna To the Judge, greetings. My name is …. . I am here with [name] for the Crown
   
E te kaiwhakawā, tēnā koe. Ko [own name] ahau. Kei konei matou ko [first junior’s name] ko [second junior’ name] mō te Karauna To the Judge, greetings. My name is …. . I am here with [names] for the Crown

* This may not be the best way to describe a respondent.

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