The Kia Ora Incident similar event took place in 2014 when KiwiYo Whangarei employees were banned from using the term "kia ora." The Kia Ora Incident The Kia Ora Incident is an incident that took place in 1984, at a time when the use of Māori phrases was uncommon in New Zealand. An Auckland telephone operator, Naida Glavish, was instructed to stop using ""kia ora"" when greeting callers after the post office had received a complaint. She refused to do so and was consequently stood down, with the whole affair attracting much public interest. The Postmaster-General, Rob Talbot, convinced the Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon,
Kia kaha a strong rope made from coconut fibres and used for lashing canoes, weapons, and buildings together. The phrase is used in several different contexts. It is a term of comfort or solace (an equivalent of "be strong - my thoughts are with you"), or (less often) it can serve a similar function to 'kia ora' - an interjection during a speech to indicate support or approval (similar to "hear! hear!"). It is sometimes seen used as a valediction at the bottom of messages. The phrase "Kia kaha" is prominently used in New Zealand's most famous military song, the Marching Song