Te reo Maori now an equal discipline

Te Matatini organisers have been recognised for their efforts to help promote the Maori language.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori has congratulated Te Matatini organisers over the decision to include te reo Maori as an aggregate item at the 2015 nationals.

"With this decision, Te Matatini is uplifting the status of te reo Maori within the competition," chief executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori Glenis Philip-Barbara said.

"We believe that teams will respond positively.

"If the decision leads to a renewed focus on te reo within performance, the decision has been worthwhile."

Te reo Maori now sits as an equal alongside the other six disciplines of Te Matatini.

"We look forward to seeing the benefits for te reo on the stage when we attend the festival in March 2015."

Maori translation

Kua toa te Reo

Kei te whakamihia a Te Matatini e Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori mo te whakaurutanga o te reo Maori hei wahanga tuturu ki nga whakataetae a-motu ka tu hei te 2015.

"Kei te hikitia ake e Te Matatini te wahi ki te reo i tenei whakataetae," te ki a Te Tumuaki o Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori, a Glenis Philip-Barbara.

"Kaore e kore ka rata nga kapa ki te whakataunga. Ki te huri rawa mai nga kapa ki te wahi ki te reo i a ratou haka, waiata, kua tutuki te kaupapa."

Inaianei, kua noho taurite te reo Maori ki era atu o nga wahanga e ono o Te Matatini.
"Kia tae tatou ki te taiopenga a te Poututerangi a te 2015, katahi ano tatou ka kite i te puawaitanga a te whakataunga nei."