whakamātau - to test, examine
whakamātau, v.t. 1. Make to know, teach.
2. Make trial of. Ka ki atu a Maui, “Whakamatau ki te moimoi” (Tr. vii, 40). Ahakoa nui te moana, me aha? Engari me whakamatau (T. 164).
Williams Dictionary
Ko te huarahi tuatahi i whakamātau ai ia hei putanga mōna ..The first pathway he tried as an escape for himself ..
I whakamātau ia i te huarahi tuatahi hei putanga mōna.He tested the first pathway as an escape for himself.
