Hei vs He - What's the difference?

Kia ora ra e te iwi!

This week I look at 'Hei' and 'He'.

It's taken me a few years to begin grasping the nuances, so I thought I was speak on it today, hopefully solidifying my own understanding. Also hopefully, what I say is coherrent and makes sense haha.

Anyways as always, here are my citations from Te Wiremu, though the english is my interpretation of the maori provided by Te Wiremu.

Hei: [H.W. WIlliams, A Dictionary of the Maori Language, pg.44]

Indictating future place and time.

1. Hei te po taua hoe ai. - At night we shall ride (our waka).

2. Hei konei na, he pa mo tatou. - Here at that place shall a pa be established for us.

Indicating purpose and/or intention.

1. Kei te rou kakahi hei o ki te taiapu. - Let us go musseling so we have some takeaway food for the raid.

2. Ko wai tou tangata hei tangi i a koe, hei ngaki hoki i tou mate? - Who shall be the one that mourns for you, that goes all in for you when you die?

indicating a future imperative

1. Tikina he toki; hei te mea nui. - Fetch an axe; get a big one.

2. Kaua hei tutu; whakatupu tangata. - Don't be a tutu; grow up and be someone we can be proud of.

3. Kua katohia he putiputi hei hari atu ki te urupa. (This example came from He Pataka Kupu) - Cut some flowers so we can bring it to the urupa.

He: [H.W. WIlliams, A Dictionary of the Maori Language, pg.43]

An indefinite article, both singular and plural.

1. He matau ano ra tahaku. - A fish hook is indeed in my possession.

2. He tangata roroa enei tangata. - Some tall people these people are.

3. Nga kai o tera maunga, he kiwi, he weka, he kiore, he kuku, he tui. - The foodsources of that mountain include kiwi, weka, kiore, kuku, and tui.

4. Homai he wai moku. - Fetch some water for me.