Some of the 120 people who took part in Friday's karakia and waiata session at Treble Court to mark Te Wiki o te Reo Māori/Maori Language Week.
Some of the 120 people who took part in Friday's karakia and waiata session at Treble Court to mark Te Wiki o te Reo Māori/Maori Language Week.
A celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori at Treble Court in the city centre this week has been so successful that karakia and waiata sessions will become a regular Friday morning event.
Between 80 and 120 people attended the daily Te Wiki o te Reo Māori/Maori Language Weeksessions from Monday to Friday at 8.30am.
Friday’s session was moved inside to the Haututu Hacklab because of the cold weather.
Asked about the number of people who turned up during the week, one of the co-ordinators, Jamie Hutana of Hikitia! Tāne Ora Tairāwhiti, said:" It was never about the numbers. It’s about sharing.”
The sessions were hosted respectively by Te Whatu Ora, Healthy Families East Coast, Hikitia Tane Ora, Taiki e and Te Kupenga.
Hutana said organisers were looking for other roopu/agencies to host the Friday karakia and waiata sessions.
Joyful singing and karakia at Treble Court were attended by up to 120 people each day this working week to mark Te Wiki o te Reo Māori/Maori Language Week. It was so successful, a regular Friday morning session is planned.
Jeremy Muir, of Hikitia Tane Ora, said the 8.30am sessions were a great way to start the day.
“It’s pretty snappy. It’s a high-energy start to the day. It’s lovely for people to gather and sing together.”
A Facebook posting from Hikitia Tane Ora said the sessions “remind us that te reo Māori isn’t just words, it’s connection, it’s identity, it’s the heartbeat of our whānau and communities”.
“Every kupu spoken, every waiata lifted, is another step in keeping our language alive for generations to come.”
Hutana said the daily sessions were the brainchild of Coby Te Pairi of Te Whatu Ora.
Te Pairi, George Kingi of Healthy Families East Coast and Hutana “all got together” and “it all sort of happened”.
“We wanted to make if simple for people. Karakia and waiata – that’s it.”
