What is "kia ora"

interj. (context New Zealand English) Expressing good will or gratitude.

Kia ora is a Māori language (known as Te Reo) greeting which has entered New Zealand English. It means literally "be well/healthy" and is translated as an informal "hi" at the Māori Language Commission website Kōrero Māori. It is also used as a farewell and thanking someone as well. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage website NZ History lists it as one of 100 Māori words every New Zealander should know, with a definition "Hi!, G'day! (general informal greeting)".

It also signifies agreement with a speaker at a meeting, as part of a culture which prizes oratory. Other Māori greetings, "Tēnā koe" (one person), "Tēnā kōrua" (two people) and "Tēnā koutou" (three or more people), are also widely used.

Likewise, "kia ora" can follow a similar pattern to address different specific numbers of people. By itself, it can be used to address any number of people, but by adding "koe" (i.e. "kia ora koe") one can specify a greeting to a single person; "kōrua" (two people); "koutou" (three or more people); and by following with "tātou" one addresses all the people present, including the speaker themself.

The word is similar to the word "kia orana" found in some Pacific Island languages, such as Cook Islands Māori, having a similar meaning.

In 1984, at a time when the use of Māori phrases was as yet uncommon in New Zealand, an Auckland telephone operator 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, is credited with successfully convincing the Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, to overturn that prohibition.

New Zealand's national airline, Air New Zealand, uses Kia Ora as the name for its inflight magazine. Water Safety New Zealand has a specific Maori water safety programme, "Kia Maanu Kia Ora", which makes use of the literal meaning of kia ora, as their message translates as "stay afloat stay alive".