Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week – turns 50

Te reo Māori shines brightly this month, which marks the golden – koura – anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Māori Language Week, says South Wairarapa District Council Pou Māori Adviser Narida Hooper.

The Māori Language Week campaign was launched in 1975, making this the 50th year of the annual celebration, which gained its initial impetus following a petition in 1972 when 30,000 New Zealanders called for the recognition of te Reo Māori.

“Fifty years on, the visibility of te reo across Aotearoa New Zealand is stronger than ever with Matariki celebrated every year and growth in the use of everyday Māori phrases and words at home, in schools, in workplaces and throughout the community,” says Hooper.

To celebrate this golden opportunity, the Council is supporting the community to try new phrases and grow the use of te Reo Māori.

Displays devoted to te reo Māori at the Council’s three libraries in Featherston, Greytown and Martinborough will highlight the language, culture and books. Wā Kōrero story time sessions during the week will focus on te reo, says Ali Te Pohe, Te Ao Māori Specialist for South Wairarapa libraries.

The libraries’ StoryWalk® in Centennial and Considine Park will feature E Oma, Rāpeti|Te Rehi Run, Rabbit, The Race. And two books to get readers started on te reo are:

• For tamariki (children): Kei hea te hipi kākāriki? / Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox.
• For adults: Aroha by Dr Hinemoa Elder – “A beautiful read full of Māori wisdom for living in harmony with our planet.”

Te reo Māori was recognised as one of three official languages of Aotearoa New Zealand in 1987.

Here’s a fun fact to impress your whānau: did you know the longest word in te reo Māori is the name of a hill in southern Hawke’s Bay? It’s called:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

“Maranga ake ai te reo Māori,” says Hooper. “Let’s celebrate te reo Māori and keep the language alive – ake ake ake.”

Learn more te reo Māori at reomaori.co.nz