Share your why

Aria - Auckland

Posted by Maria Whitcombe-Shingler · September 17, 2020 1:03 PM

I would like to be part of keeping te reo Maori alive.

Angie - Featherston

Posted by Angie Smith · September 17, 2020 1:03 PM

Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Angelina - Melbourne

Posted by Angelina Matekohi · September 17, 2020 1:03 PM

To learn te reo Maori for my mokopuna.

Angela - Whakatane

Posted by Angela Murphy · September 17, 2020 1:03 PM

I feel in myself that I am missing out.

Andrea - Christchurch

Posted by Andrea Te Ohaere-Fox · September 17, 2020 1:03 PM

Ko Te Reo Māori te reo tuturu o Aotearoa!

Alwin - Hamilton

Posted by Alwin Daniel · September 17, 2020 1:02 PM

I want to be a part of this massive , beautiful, ancient culture, that is all about family, love and welcoming everyone.

Ali - Gisborne

Posted by Ali Palmer · September 17, 2020 1:01 PM

To celebrate and honour culture, language and diversity.

Zania - Kirikiriroa

Posted by Zania Heke · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

It is important because of my Māori Whakapapa and I know my ancestors who have lived and passed before me need me to be their voice, through consistent learning, speaking te reo as much as possible & teach our own tamariki te reo Māori.

Yt - Hamilton

Posted by Yt im leaf · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Kia kaha te reo Maaori.

yo - Tamaki Makaurau

Posted by Yo Heta-Lensen · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Kia tautoko te i kaupapa nei.

wiyaphan - Thailand

Posted by wiyaphan wiyaporn · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

to study.

Whakarae - Turanganui A Kiwa

Posted by Whakarae Henare · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Te Reo Maori has had a big influence on the person I have become.

Wayne - Paeroa

Posted by Wayne Whitney · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

For me it is personal.

Vivien - wanaka

Posted by Vivien Eyers · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

because I want to learn and understand more te reo Maori and be part of making it used more in our everyday life by all of us in Aotearoa.

Vicki - Wellington

Posted by Vicki Hirini · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

We got involved because we are a group building a new way for our lives and want to have as much positive stuff as possible in it.

Vicki - Raumati Beach

Posted by Vicki Wilson · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

We, as a school, embrace te reo and Te Ao Māori.

Vanessa - Whangarei

Posted by Vanessa Martinovich · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

To acknowledge that Te Reo Māori is inportant.

Ursula - Waikato

Posted by Ursula Aitken · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Maaori te whenua.

Trevor - Whanganui

Posted by Trevor Schmidt · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Kia kaha Te reo Maori.

Tracy - Tauranga

Posted by Tracy Stock · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

I have also wanted to learn to converse in Maori.

Timoti - Kaiapoi North Canterbury

Posted by Timoti Rangitutia-Stegehuis · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

to help deaf adults to do sign languages to communication each others in Te Reo Maori,.

Tiare - Oxford

Posted by Tiare Annandale · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Because my language is beautiful and there is so much depth and meaning to our kupu.

Theresa - Tauranga

Posted by Theresa Lemi · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

To connect.

Terrie - Christchurch

Posted by Terrie Davis · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

It's my birth right, although learning Te Reo has slipped away from me, I am ready to take the Journey to not only learn my language but understand the essence of living in a Māori world.

TeAra - Havelock North

Posted by TeAra Bergstrom · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Te Reo is and should be Aotearoa's first and first official language, lets all be bilingual.

Te Aomihia - Kaikoura

Posted by Te Aomihia Te Huia · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

I navigate myself by continuing the work of my tupuna, I uphold their mana; And perhaps the sharing of the taonga that is Māoritanga might inspire modern-day Aotearoa to further immerse in Te Ao Māori.

Te-Reo-Iriaka - Tāmaki Makaurau

Posted by Te-Reo-Iriaka Tahuri · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

E Arohaina ana te reo e au!

taylor - Christchurch

Posted by taylor Fenemor · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

because I can speak te Reo Maori .

Tanya - Invercargill

Posted by Tanya Raats · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

As part of the whole a "New Zealander" I feel it is important to honour the Tangatewhenua of this country by connecting using New Zealand's first language.

Taane - Auckland

Posted by Taane Barlow · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

He Māori ahau.

Stephanie - Hamilton

Posted by Stephanie Wilson · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Because learning about others enriches everyone.

Sidney - Edmonton

Posted by Sidney Nehua-Jackson · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

My ancestors couldn’t speak Te Reo Māori , so I speak and continue to learn Māori for my ancestors who couldn’t 🤎.

Sharon - New Plymouth

Posted by Sharon Ansley · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

I have made the commitment to learn te reo Māori in an 18 month course at my work place.

Shana - Sydney

Posted by Shana Nuku · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

Connecting to my roots, my whanau.

Sayaka - Wellington

Posted by Sayaka Nakamura-Shand · September 15, 2020 12:51 PM

To know the local language is a courtesy.

Sasha - Brisbane

Posted by Sasha Makoare-Adams · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

For myself, my family & for my future tamariki to come.

Sarah - Wellington

Posted by sarah Hoskyns · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

It's important to our programme to honour Māori and other Indigenous approaches to music and healing.

Sarah - Manurewa

Posted by Sarah Morunga · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Learn my language.

Sarah - Auckland

Posted by Sarah McAlpine · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Te reo is a beautiful language!

Santiago - Tauranga

Posted by Santiago · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

To decolonise and pay homage!

Sandra - Glen Eden

Posted by Sandra Foley · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

te reo Maori should be part of our daily life, it is our heritage.

Sam - York

Posted by Sam Reese · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Growing up in Aotearoa I was always proud that te Reo was an official language, that was used in small ways by friends, whanau, and people around me.

Sally - Palmerston North

Posted by Sally Blair · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

So my kids learn to.

Ryan - Seattle

Posted by Ryan Williams · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Culture and language go hand in hand.

Ruth - Christchurch

Posted by Ruth Radhika · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I just love Maori Culture, been brought up Maori family and friends I love it, makes me who I am today.

Rosie - Auckland

Posted by Rosie Leat · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I feel sad that Maori were forced to abandon their language.

Rosie - Auckland

Posted by Rosie Remmerswaal · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

"Kōrero Māori i ngā wā katoa, i ngā wāhi katoa.

Rose - Auckland

Posted by Rose Blane · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Our commitment to the Te Tiriti o Waitangi living in Aotearoa .

Rickie-lee - Rotorua

Posted by Rickie-lee Kamariera · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

kia korero māori te ao katoa.

Reuben - London

Posted by Reuben jones · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Because I'm a New Zealander and I should know how to speak Maori .

Renee - Perth, Western Australia

Posted by Renee Begley · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I have lived in Australia for 20 years but NZ is my home, my culture, my heritage.

Red - Tamaki Makaurau

Posted by Red Henare · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I am Maori and it’s important that people who live in our country have a better understanding of who I am as Maori.

Rebecca - Perth Wa

Posted by Rebecca Danials · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I must learn to honour my mother, to not forget my country of birth and to be connected .

Rangimaria

Posted by Rangimaria Fenton · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Tautoko I Te Kaupapa Kia kaha ake to tātou reo.

Ramona - Marayong

Posted by Ramona Toi · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I am maori and want to learn my Reo.

Rachel - Christchurch

Posted by Rachel Smith · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Māori is apart of my culture and it’s important to me, I would love to learn more .

Rachael - Christchurch

Posted by Rachael McGuigan · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

To be respectful, to learn, to inquire, to observe and to hopefully, one day, know more!

Phillipa - Hastings

Posted by Phillipa Tibbles · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

It is important because it is one of the languages of Aotearoa and should be spoken in everyday life as greetings or simple sentences by everyone.

Peter - Otautahi

Posted by Peter Moore · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Te reo is important to our identity as New Zealanders.

Paige - Hawkes Bay

Posted by Paige Jordan · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

To keep our reo alive and spread our culture to those that maybe unaware of our whakapapa or their own connections.

Nora - Rotorua

Posted by Nora Allerby · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I am a Kaiako and a proud young maori Māmā.

Nora - Auckland

Posted by Leonora O'Loughlin · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

It would be a great sadness to allow for Maori language to be forgotten, as its part of New Zealand's heritage and identity.

Niki - Hamilton

Posted by Niki Elkington · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I am on my personal journey learning Te reo Maori for my family and I.

Niki - Christchurch

Posted by niki penny · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Its about normalising the use of our language and making it fun for those who have limited experience with it.

Nicole - Wellington

Posted by Nicole Seminiuk · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I just want to learn Te Reo Maori!

Nicolaas - Pakuranga

Posted by Nicolaas Bakker · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

It's part of my own whakapapa.

Nicola - Tauranga

Posted by Nicola Jones · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I have just moved home to Aotearoa.

Nellie - Melbourne

Posted by Nellie Astle · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Inspire and motivate others who have had a bad experience learning previously.

Naomi - Auckland

Posted by Naomi Rosedale · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

As a New Zealander it is important to value te reo Māori as a toanga.

Nalini - Auckland

Posted by Nalini Govind · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

to acknowledge and support our New Zealand history and understand a new culture.

Monique - Sydney

Posted by Monique Smith · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

To honour my tupuna, especially my kuia, she was subjected to racism because she was Maori.

Monique - London

Posted by Monique Hobdell · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

To continue to learn, share and revitalise our taonga.

Moera - Brisbane

Posted by Moera Hunt · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Kia kaha Te reo Maori.

Mikilani - Honolulu

Posted by Mikilani Keohokalole Tupuola · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Maori people and their language touched my life.

Mikaela - Auckland

Posted by Mikaela Topolsky · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Because Te Reo Maori is a fun thing to learn.

Mika - Wellington

Posted by Mika Vanderwalt · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I want to learn Māori because I think the Māori culture is very unique and that learning the language is a part of learning they’re culture .

Mihi - Turangi

Posted by Mihi Hakiwai-Whaanga · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

It is important to me to learn my native language.

Melissa - Hamilton

Posted by Melissa Neumegen · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Its important as a Kiwi to respect the Maori culture by learning Te Reo.

Melissa - Ashburton

Posted by Melissa Coe · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

.

Maria - Auckland

Posted by Maria Oyaneder · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Because as a family for overseas we also believe that roots are important and showing respect and appreciation for your culture it’s the base of our learnings as a family , we are proud for having the chance to learn more about Maori culture .

Margaret - Levin

Posted by Margaret MacDonald · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I have retired recently and now have more time on my hands to learn.

Maia - Dunedin

Posted by Maia Daniela · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

Our Maaori language is unique specifically to Aotearoa .

Lynda - Auckland

Posted by Lynda Kuan · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

To have a better understanding of the language and culture.

Lynda-May - Christchurch

Posted by Lynda-May Te Karu · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

My why is my two children and my partner (soon to be husband).

Lydia - Banks Peninsula

Posted by Lydia Woods · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

I love Maori language.

Luxmanan - Dunedin

Posted by Luxmanan Selvanesan · September 15, 2020 12:50 PM

It's important as new zealanders to learn about New Zealand culture and heritage.

Lorenza - Basel Swizerland

Posted by Lorenza Mondada · September 15, 2020 12:49 PM

Maori is part of the world's language diversity and part of the human heritage of all of us.

Lois - Arrowtown

Posted by Lois McArtney · September 15, 2020 12:49 PM

Being a kiwi.

Liz - Whanganui-a-Tara

Posted by Liz Langham · September 15, 2020 12:49 PM

“Because it’s fun” says my eight-year-old tamahine :) And I say also because it’s just, right, beautiful, enlightening and powerful to kōrero in the first language of our whenua.