On-line Te Reo Māori Dictionary

Nāwai, ad. denoting regular sequence of events, generally followed by a.

1. Presently, after a time, in due course. Ka haere, a nawai, nawai, a ka ngaro katoa te ihu (M. ix). Nawai ra, a ka rewa nga waewae, kua kauhoehoe (T. 120).

2. For some time, for a while. Katahi ka kau mai te tangata ra; nawai ra i raro te wai, a ka to nga turi; nawai i nga turi, a ka to nga hope (For a while the water was shallow, then it reached his knees; for a while it was at his knees, then it reached his loins) (T. 120). Sometimes the verb qualified is repeated. Nawai i tawhiti, i tawhiti, ka tae ki te taha tonu o tona putanga atu (T. 19). Nawai i po, i po, a, ka marama (T. 16). ‖ Ta. nawai, v., hold out, last.

Williams Dictionary