Take a te reo moment

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is the one week every year that Aotearoa New Zealand has dedicated to celebrating and promoting the language of the land and its people.

It is a chance for anyone to share and celebrate different aspects of the language — whether that is learning it, speaking it, making it more visible or consuming te reo Māori content. 

During Te Wiki o te Reo Māori a kaupapa was started a few years back that focuses on creating a Māori Language Moment. 

It’s known as Te Wa Tuku Reo Māori and this year happens today at 12 noon.  

Everyone is invited to stop what they are doing — for just a moment — and celebrate and use te reo Māori.

This can be in any sort of way. 

Some people organise quizzes, sing waiata or haka, watch a te reo Māori film or local television show, kōrero with a friend or colleague in te reo Māori — something that celebrates and promotes te reo Māori just for one small moment out of your day. 

The website reomaori.co.nz has more ideas on what people can do. 

The timing of Te Wa Tuku Reo Māori marks the moment the Māori Language Petition was presented to Parliament in 1972 on the first Māori Language Day. 

Three years later the day became a week, and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. 

But of course, the language does not just exist in one moment. The language is alive as it becomes more visible and more people begin learning and speaking the language. 

There are more signs where the kupu Māori are used, such as “kura” being used alongside “school”. Some might say it’s too hard, others might say it’s too simple, but the reason remains — to have the country’s official language visible and alive.

Even using a “kia ora” to start your email, or saying “āe” instead of yes, are simple ways to use the language.To those who want to learn te reo Māori, there are many different ways to do so, including at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and EIT Tairāwhiti. But along with these physical locations there are private te reo Māori kaiako who can help one-on-one or teach you online. 

There are plenty of resources and content available online, and documentation on Te Taura Whiri website. 

If you aren’t ready to jump in, take it slowly and make a goal to use it at least once a day. The more it’s used, it becomes more natural and learning it becomes easier. 

Don’t be afraid to say kia ora. 

Kia kaha te reo Māori.