Learn a new Maori word every week

This year's Maori Language Week's theme is the word of the week which will help New Zealanders to build their Maori vocabulary. Photo / File

Every day this week we will be publishing a story in English, translated into Te Reo.

Today is the start of Maori Language Week and Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori has announced a theme of "Te Kupu o te Wiki", which translates as "The Word of the Week".

A new Maori word will be highlighted each week. All schools, communities and organisations are encouraged to introduce and adopt that word with students and staff.

Te Kupu o te Wiki will help New Zealanders to build their Maori vocabulary and learn words to use in everyday conversation.

"Vocabulary is a building block of language.

"In 2014, we'll be adding Maori words to the national vocabulary, introducing new and interesting words that we can all use," Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori chief executive Glenis Philip-Barbara said.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori will work with a wide range of iwi, community, whanau, government, education, businesses and other organisations to discuss how to build and enhance te reo in those sectors. In the business sector, it might mean using more Maori in advertising.

"On the news, it might mean using more everyday terms on bulletins.

"During Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, all New Zealanders will have the chance to increase their Maori language vocabulary with the support of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori and our partners," Ms Philip-Barbara said.

Te Wiki o te Reo Maori runs from today through to Sunday.

Maori version

Hei whakanui i Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, tenei Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori te whakapuaki nei ki te ao te tahuhu mo te wiki, 'Te Kupu o te Wiki'.

I raro i tenei tahuhu matua mo te wiki, ka whakanuia tetahi kupu Maori hou i ia wiki o te tau, mo nga wiki rima tekau. E akina ana nga kura katoa, nga hapori katoa, nga whakahaere hoki kia whakamahi, kia kawe hoki ratou i taua kupu me nga akonga, nga kaimahi ano hoki.

Ko ta Te Kupu o te Wiki he awhina i a Ngati Niu Tireni ki te whakapiki i a ratou pataka kupu Maori. Ma roto i tenei kokiri Te Kupu o te Wiki ka ako te hunga aroha ki te reo Maori i etahi kupu Maori hei whakamahi ma ratou i nga korerorero o ia ra.

"Ko tenei mea te puna kupu tetahi wahi nui o te reo o te tangata. I te tau 2014 ka tapiri matou i etahi kupu Maori ki te puna kupu o te motu, me te whakauru mai i etahi kupu hou, kupu whakaoho i te wairua hei whakamahi ma tatou," te ki Te Tumuaki o Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori a Glenis Philip-Barbara.

Ka mahi ngatahi Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori me te huhua o nga iwi, nga whanau, te kawanatanga, nga whakahaere matauranga, te rangai pakihi, me etahi atu momo whakahaere. Ka matapaki matou me pehea te whakawhanui, te whakapakari hoki i te reo i aua rangai: I te rangai pakihi, tera pea ka whakamahia te reo i roto i nga panui me nga whakatairanga.

I nga pitopito korero, ka rangona pea nga kupu Maori o ia ra i nga pitopito korero reo Pakeha.

Hei Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, ka whai wahi nga tangata katoa o Aotearoa ki te whakawhanui i to ratou puna kupu reo Maori, me te tautoko mai a Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori me o matou kaitautoko, e ai ki a Glenis Philip-Barbara.

Kei te timataria Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, he tenei ra ki Ratapu.