Pakeha urged to pronounce place names properly

By Jo-Marie Brown
A Maori language specialist is urging Pakeha to promote Te Reo Maori by learning to pronounce place names like Tauranga and Papamoa correctly.
Reweti Te Mete, a community language co-ordinator for education agency Te Matahauariki o Tauranga Moana, said people routinely mispronounced Maori place names, christian and surnames.
"We have no expectation of non-Maori becoming fluent but we would like to at least see them participate in the correct pronunciation of Maori names, specifically here in Tauranga."
Mr Te Mete said places like Maungatapu, Katikati and Papamoa were often mispronounced, which had a flow-on effect.
"It's quite apparent because with the younger generation they actually start mispronunciation and normalising it."
This week is Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week) and Mr Te Mete said taking the time to learn how to pronounce your street, suburb or city name correctly "would be an awesome contribution to the revitalisation of Te Reo Maori".
Most people heard or spoke several Maori words each day without even realising it and the gesture would go a long way to improving cultural relations, Mr Te Mete said.
"We could actually start with the public sector. If staff could pronounce their client's names and the areas where they live ... those organisations will have a better relationship with tangata whenua."
A strategic Maori language plan was currently being developed by Mr Te Mete for the Tauranga Moana region on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
It was due to be launched in October and would help promote Maori language, provide learning opportunities, document the local dialect and stories from local native speakers and create opportunities to use Te Reo Maori in everyday life.
"We do have a number of speakers within Tauranga Moana but what we've identified is that apart from the powhiri process, there's actually no place for us to go and just hear and listen to the language."
Yesterday Mr Te Mete joined Ngaiterangi iwi runanga staff who walked up Mauao while only conversing in Maori to celebrate Maori Language Week.
Iwi chairperson Hauata Palmer said the decision was made at a recent staff retreat to make a greater commitment to the Maori language.
"I have looked through our goals and aspirations for Maori language this year and I believe that we need to do more.
"We must rejuvenate our language, otherwise how can we claim to be Maori?" he said.
Ngati Pukenga iwi member and Maori language specialist Te Awanuiarangi Black said the iwi had also developed a language plan and was embarking on a series of reo seminars for tribal members.
"We are committed to doing our best to make sure our children and their children retain this beautiful taonga - our reo. We need to plan to insure this. We need to get stuck in and speak it on our marae, on our maunga [mountain] and most of all in our kainga [homes]."