Kia kaha Kia kaha Kia kaha is a Māori phrase used by the people of New Zealand as an affirmation, meaning "stay strong". The phrase has significant meaning for Māori: popularised through its usage by the 28th Māori Battalion during World War II, it is found in titles of books and songs, as well as a motto. Linguistically, kia kaha consists of the desiderative verbal particle "kia", used here as 'an encouragement to achieve the state named', that is, to achieve "kaha" or strength. "Kaha" derives from Proto-Polynesian "*kafa", meaning "strong" or "great"; "*kafa" is also the Proto-Polynesian term for sennit rope,
Proverbial phrase Proverbial phrase A proverbial phrase or a proverbial expression is type of a conventional saying similar to proverbs and transmitted by oral tradition. The difference is that a proverb is a fixed expression, while a proverbial phrase permits alterations to fit the grammar of the context. Another similar construction is an idiomatic phrase. Sometimes it is difficult to draw a distinction between idiomatic phrase and proverbial expression. In both of them the meaning does not immediately follow from the phrase. The difference is that an idiomatic phrase involves figurative language in its components, while in a proverbial phrase the figurative