Maori Language Week gets under way with kia ora as its theme

Vianney Douglas, pictured with Te Kohakahurangi Henare, Dayton Douglas, Heperuna Blake, says te reo is vital to her life. Photo/George Novak

Ever since Vianney Douglas started learning te reo Maori in her first year at high school she has done all she can to improve her skills.

Ms Douglas may be a second language learner of te reo but the value she holds for it is one of her first priorities - and she has made sure her children understand its importance too.

Today marks the beginning of Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week), which runs until September 17. The theme is Kia ora te reo Māori as a way to celebrate New Zealand's indigenous greeting.

She said learning te reo was more than understanding the language - it was also about understanding the culture and tikanga (customs and values).

Ms Douglas, who is the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepou, says te reo is vital to her life and has instilled that importance into her family.

She only started learning Maori language in her first year at high school but continued to learn through tertiary studies, Te Ataarangi courses and other programmes available to her.

"Whatever way I could improve my reo I did it," Ms Douglas said.

Ms Douglas said her career in education was prompted by her desire to ensure her children learned te reo. Her four children are all fluent and it is the first language of her three grandchildren.

"I really wanted to be involved in my children's learning and ensure they had quality Maori teachers," she said.

"It's just really important that they have their native tongue."

Ms Douglas said acknowledging te reo during Maori language Week was a good start towards putting more emphasis on the importance of the language in New Zealand and hopefully recognising it as an official second language of the country.

"To truly be bi-cultural, we need to be bilingual."