High hopes for te reo

Te Ururoa Flavell outlined his vision for the future with marae throughout the country totally immersed in te reo by 2017.

The Maori MP was in Hamilton this week to celebrate Maori Language Week.

This week marks the 25th anniversary for Maori Language Week and the Te Awa shopping complex in Hamilton held a launch party to kickstart the national event.

A line-up of speakers each provided an insight into why Maori Language Week is so important to New Zealanders and respect was paid to Dame Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira, one of the founding members of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori (Maori Language Commission).

Te Ururoa Flavell spoke about the importance of New Zealanders learning Te Reo Maori and how it is our duty as a nation to hold on to it.

"We need to embrace the language before it is lost and gone forever, we need to stop fighting with the courts and with each other about it," he said.

His hopes for the future is to have marae all around the country to be totally immersed in Te Reo by 2017, as well as having options for people to speak and read Maori wherever they go, whether it be shopping or watching television.

Given the honour of cutting the cake to celebrate the 25th successful year of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo, was former Minister of Maori Affairs Koro Wetere as well as Professor Timoti Karetu, one of two remaining founding members of the commission.

Known for being outspoken and always having a lot to say, Mr Karetu simply said: "I have nothing new to add. We all know what we need to do. Don't be lazy, it's never too late to learn Te Reo Maori. "

The message this year is Arohatia Te Reo, which means cherishing the language.

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori runs July 23-29. Ma te reo, me te reo, mo te reo.