Kia ora 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, to overturn that prohibition. "Kia ora" has a similar meaning to the word "kia orana", found in related Polynesian languages, such as Cook Islands Māori. Kia ora Kia ora (, approximated in English as ) is a Māori language greeting which has entered New Zealand English. It means, literally, "have life" or "be well/healthy", and is translated as an informal "hi" or "hello" at the Māori Language Commission website Kōrero Māori. It might be
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