Press the middle of the tongue to the roof of the mouth, near the throat, and simultaneously relax the pressure, and pronounce na. Of course care must be taken that the tip of the tongue does not touch the palate.[3]
Following is a table setting forth a few of the variations in pronunciation of the leading dialects of New Zealand.
It will be observed that the name of a place is employed to denote the dialect for which that place and its vicinity are remarkable.
| NGAPUHI. | WAIKATO. | EAST | ROTO- | TAUPO. | TARA- |
| CAPE. | RUA. | NAKI. | |||
| Keri | Keri | Kari | Kari | Kari | |
| Tatou | Tatou | Tatau | Tatau | Tatou & Tatau | Tatou |
| Matou | Matou | Matau | Matau | Matou & Matau | Matou |
| Ratou | Ratou | Ratau | Ratau | Ratou & Ratau | Ratou |
| Koro & Korua | Korua | ||||
| Koutou | Koutou | Koutau | Koutau | Koutou & Koutau | Kotou |
| Taua or Tao | Taua | Taua | Taua | ||
| Maua or Mao | Maua | Maua | Maua | ||
| Raua or Rao | Raua | Raua | Roua | ||
| Hei | Hei | Hai | Hai | Hai & Hei | Ei |
| Kei | Kei | Kai | Kai | Kai & Kei | Kei |
| Tutei | Tutai | Tutai | Tutai | Tutai | Tutei |
| Wha | Wa | ||||
| Maoa | Maia | Maoa | Maia & Maoa | ||
| Hohou | Whawhau | Hohou & Whawhua | O-ou | ||
| Teina | Teina | Taina | Taina | Teina | Teina |
| Tarai | Tarai | Tarei | Tarei | Tarai | |
| Heoi | Heoti | Heoti | Eoi & Eoti | ||
| Kua | Kua | Koua | Kua & Koua | Ku | |
| Kia | Kia | Kia | Kia | Kia | Ki |
| Horo | Hohoro | O-oro | |||
| Topa | Tao | Tao | Tao | ||
| Roa | Ro | ||||
| Tonu | Tonu | Tou |
See also the letters ng and h.
[3] This sound is not known in the Bay of Plenty. Its place is supplied by a simple n, further southward by k.
CHAPTER II.
OF THE ARTICLE.
§ 1. The articles in Maori are as follows:—
(a.) The definite article te and its plural nga; e. g.