General
kia ora
What does kia ora mean?
A widely used greeting meaning literally 'be well/healthy', used for hello, thanks, or as an expression of agreement.
"Kia ora, everyone, thanks for coming along today."
Origin
From Māori 'kia ora' (be well); adopted across all New Zealand English.
Frequently asked questions
What does kia ora mean?
Kia ora literally means 'be well' or 'be healthy' in Māori, and is used as a greeting for hello, as a thank you, or to show agreement.
Is it OK for non-Māori to say kia ora?
Yes. Kia ora is used across all of New Zealand society as a warm, everyday greeting and is welcomed from anyone.
How do you respond to kia ora?
You can simply say 'kia ora' back, which works as a friendly return greeting.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
