Phrase of week: It's cool to korero

Kura Simon

Te Wiki o te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week) begins today and the theme for 2015 is Whangaihia te reo ki nga Matua - Nurture the Language in Parents.

Each year the Josephite Retreat Centre runs a workshop to celebrate Maori Language week. It is centred around the theme for the year and involves waiata, korero and karakia.

There will be a free workshop at the centre tomorrow with tutors Kura and Kahu Simon, widow and son of kaumatua, teacher, orator and composer Morvin Simon.

"The Josephite sisters have a long association and respect with iwi and have supported in many ways," said manager Trish Boswell. "We still have involvement with many local kapa haka groups that attend the national Hui Aranga competition at Easter each year, with Sister Barbara Cowan assisting the choirs and helping with music practice and many sisters attend the event, which will be held in Wanganui next year."

Following on from last year's theme Te Kupu o te Wiki - Word of the Week, the Maori Language Commission is encouraging everyone to learn a phrase of the week - te Rerenga Korero o te Wiki.

Maori Language week started 40 years ago in 1975 after a group named Nga Tamatoa (The Young Warriors) petitioned parliament to promote the language. Concerned about the decline in Maori language usage since World War II. The group represented a growing number of New Zealanders wishing to promote te reo.

The Land March also happened in 1975, with over 5000 marchers delivering a petition with 60,000 signatures to parliament requesting that Maori land grievances be addressed.

The famous photo of Rarawa march leader Dame Whina Cooper and her granddaughter Irenee, taken by NZ Herald photographer Michael Tubberty, on the 1975 hikoi is one of the posters for Maori Language Week this year.

Parents who want to korero with their kids can attend the workshop tomorrow at the Josephite Retreat Centre, 14 Hillside Terrace, Wanganui from 10am-12pm with light lunch provided. Call 06 345 5047 extn 3 to register.