Share your why

Lexie - kaitaia

Posted by lexie taaffe · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

To learn te reo maori.

Lesley - Granity

Posted by Lesley Towart · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

I've always loved listening to Maori language, te reo, being spoken and admired those who do.

Leo - Christchurch

Posted by Leo Claxton · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

Its important to acknowledge the maori language and culture.

Lena - waipawa hawkes bay

Posted by Lena Sagar · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

I wish I could have had this opportunity when i was at school and would have loved my children to have the option in their schooling too.

Leleina - Tokoroa

Posted by Leleina Russell · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

Would love my kids to be able to speak their mother tongue.

Leiu - Auckland

Posted by Leiu Bourne · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

The importance of embracing our indigenous culture & language here in Aotearoa!

Leigh - Blenheim

Posted by Leigh Asiamah · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

Encouraging language is important.

Leena - Auckland

Posted by Heleena Carroll · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

Te reo Maori is unique to NZ and the indigenous language.

Leearna - Christchurch

Posted by Leearna Myles · September 14, 2020 7:24 PM

It is so important to keep the Maori culture and language alive for the next generation, I have 5 tamariki my partner is Maori and I have studied tikanga and te reo so I am able to uphold our children's culture in our home .

Leeann - Wellington

Posted by Leeann Williams · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I want to support te reo Māori as the indigenous language.

Lee - Wellington

Posted by Charlee Matthews · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

To grow our country.

Lee - Turanganui a Kiwa

Posted by Lee Smith · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Im proud to be Maori and to have my reo Maori.

Lee - Paeroa

Posted by Lee Gumbley · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Aotearoa had potential once to have a wonderfully rich bicultural society.

Lee - Maroubra

Posted by Lee Nelson · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I was born in New Zealand and grew up with Maori place names but no understanding of what they meant.

Lee - Auckland

Posted by Lee Smith · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

It is vital that the Maori language lives on and is loved.

Leanne - Wellington

Posted by Leanne Manson · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

E tupakari te reo maori.

Leanne - Christchurch

Posted by Leanne Bayler · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I wish I had learned Te Reo Māori when I was a child.

Leanna - Hamilton

Posted by Leanna Shortland · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Role Modelling to my tamariki me mokopuna.

Leah - Hamilton

Posted by Leah Coffey · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Because it's sacred to me.

Lea - Auckland

Posted by · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

As a European NZer, I am celebrating and honouring tangata whenua and their reo!

Lavinia - auckland

Posted by Lavinia tipene · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

its cool to korero .

Lavina - Auckland

Posted by Lavina King-Tahapehi · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I'm still learning on my maori side but beside in my whanau I want to keep the Te Reo Maori in us.

Lauren - Wellington

Posted by Lauren Bourke · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I think it is important to normalise Te Reo in our everyday language.

lauren - wellington

Posted by lauren dever · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

We need our own New Zealand culture - an integration of Maori and Pacifica and European alongside other people who migrated here .

Lauren - Stratford, Ontario, Canada

Posted by Lauren Fleming · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I wasn't born a Kiwi but I grew up there.

Lauren - North Canterbury

Posted by Lauren Rowlands · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Because I have thoroughly enjoyed my reo learning journey so far and I believe it is something all kiwis should learn and participate in .

Laura - Te Whanganui a Tara

Posted by Laura Jones · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Learning a language is a way to understand a peoples' perspective on the world - it is truly a treasure.

Lara - Wellington

Posted by Lara Avery · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I'm a maori student, and my mum is learning how to speak fluent.

Lara - Papanui

Posted by Lara Grocott · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Because Te Reo is special to Aotearoa and we need to preserve, encourage and celebrate it - it's part of being Kiwi!

Lala - Wellington

Posted by Lala Rolls · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Aotearoa is the place of Māori - since arriving from Fiji in 1981 I have always felt the culture here should be Māori led and the language a natural choice for all.

lakeisha - Auckland

Posted by lakeisha fangaake · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Te Reo Maori is important especially when you are living in New Zealand, its the native language.

Laise - Tokoroa

Posted by Laise Harris · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Mahuru Maori reo and waiora challenge - increasing use of Te Reo Maori on a daily basis and doing a weekly fitness challenge for the month as a tima.

Laie - Wellington, Whitby

Posted by Laie Vatuvai · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

So I can learn Maori and it is important to learn Maori in New Zealand because Maori people are the people who found this land and they are letting us stay in it and we owe them.

Laetitia - Rotorua

Posted by Laetitia Van Vliet · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

To acknowledge and respect my whanau and whakapapa.

Kylie - Christchurch

Posted by Kylie Moore · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Having called nz home for 37 years but started school in Australia I missed all introduction to te roa in preschool and school, now I am going back and learning the official language of Nz having just completed level 1&3 in nzsl I am beginning my journey into learning te roa maori .

Krysten - Auckland

Posted by Krysten Vonk · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

We believe it is important to celebrate Te Reo Maori because not only is it an important part of Maori Culture, but is also an important part of New Zealand's History and unique identity.

Krystal - Christchurch

Posted by Krystal Forgesson · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I want to help reinstate the language and pass onto the younger generation in our whanau.

Kristyn - Pokeno

Posted by Kristyn Mitchell · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Boost te reo in nz.

Kristen - Wellington

Posted by Kristen Wineera · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I have so much respect for the tangata who continued to speak their language, te reo, when the process of colonisation made that so difficult, even punishable.

Kristelle - Wellington

Posted by Kristelle Plimmer · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Te reo Māori is a taonga that all New Zealanders have a responsibility to protect and nurture.

Kristelle - Auckland

Posted by Kristelle Varney · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

He māori ahau!

Krista - Papakura

Posted by Krista Rabulall · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

This is an important part of New Zealand culture and we want to take part and share in this anniversary and moment of such significance.

Krishna - Wellington

Posted by · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

because I am a proud citizen of New Zealand and would like to take part in a nationwide event with 100's of thousands of people.

Kohe - Auckland

Posted by Kohe Pene · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

It is one of the national languages in Aotearoa and so it is very important for me to support this kaupapa.

Kochurani - Auckland

Posted by Kochurani Jom · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Being a teacher i think it will be helpful for me to know my Maori students better.

Kirsty - Turangi

Posted by Kirsty Albert · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Because I am Maori we are Maori and as a people we are unique and important we own this and need to share it with our future generations .

Kirsty - Auckland

Posted by Kirsty MacDiarmid · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

I want to walk with confidence in our land.

Kirsten - Auckland

Posted by Kirsten Jones · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Te Reo Māori encompasses unique and key kaupapa.

Kirikowhai - Rotorua

Posted by Kirikowhai Mikaere · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Ko te reo rangatira te take.

Kiran - Wellington

Posted by Kiran Gandhi · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Our goal is to establish, encourage and nurture sustainable creativity.

Kingi - Auckland

Posted by Kingi Martin · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Ko te kaupapa whakahirahira, kia mau ki te reo o tatou tupuna.

Kimihia - Hamilton

Posted by Kimihia Opetaia · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

To be apart of the actions to strengthen our ancestral language .

Kimberly - Whanganui

Posted by Kimberly Kawau · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

To normalise Reo in my everyday, embrace my unique culture so my kids can carry on.

Kim - Whangaparaoa

Posted by Kim Dovey · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

There are so many reasons and they all flood in so fast that it is hard to break them down into a sentence to put in this box.

Kim - New Plymouth

Posted by Kim Ferens · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

It’s an important part of who we are to know the culture where we live.

Kim - Matamata

Posted by Kim Lawrence · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

It is important because its part of who we all are as New Zealanders.

Kim - Hastings

Posted by Kim Salamonson · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

Because maori language is one of our official languages and I think it’s important we can understand and use it and we understand our cultural history .

Kim - Christchurch

Posted by Earthlove Limited · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

As a pākehā who came to Aotearoa over 8 years ago I think it's very important to keep the reo of the whenua alive.

Kim - Christchurch

Posted by Kim Hall · September 14, 2020 7:23 PM

We want to further the teachers knowledge and skills and support our children to enjoy Te Reo in our preschool .

Kim - Auckland

Posted by Kim Lo · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

It's our history and an integral part of what makes us New Zealanders.

Kim - Auckland

Posted by Kim Anderson · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

I'm a New Zealander, which makes it important to normalise and use one of our official languages, but I'm also part Māori.

Kiera - Whanganui

Posted by Kiera Muldoon · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

To keep the beautiful language alive.

Kevin - Palmerston North

Posted by Kevin Frost · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

Be able to understand and speak some basic te reo.

Kerry - Palmerston North

Posted by Kerry Howe · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

To me it is important to learn and respect te reo Maori as it is the language of Aotearoa.

Kerry - Auckland

Posted by Kerry Wagstaff · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

Māori is not only my heritage but also an official language of NZ.

Kerri - Hamilton

Posted by Kerri Challis · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

Its so important we don't loose the language.

Keri - New Plymouth

Posted by Keri Elvin · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

As a role model- I tutor te reo maori and offer cultural supervision to others.

Kenya - Dunedin

Posted by Kenya Ashcroft · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

It’s important for modern day New Zealand to pay compensation to the damage that colonisation has had on te Ao Maori and Te Reo.

Kenneth - Auckland

Posted by Kenneth Benoit · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

I am an immigrant to New Zealand/Aotearoa and have been here for more than 40 years.

Kelly - Dunedin

Posted by Kelly Morrissey · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

it is a part of New Zealand culture and should be taught and used.

Kelly - Christchurch

Posted by Kelly Forster · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

Keeping Te Reo alive needs to be a priority for all New Zealnaders.

Kelly - Chch

Posted by Kelly Johansson · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

Love the language.

Kelly - Auckland

Posted by Kelly Clark · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

It is one of our official languages and I need to be using it more.

Kellie - Wellington

Posted by Kellie Malcolm · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

We have to preserve the language.

Keita - Wellington

Posted by Keita Abraham · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

I would really like to learn to speak fluent Maori by the time I'm 20.

Keenan - Auckland

Posted by Keenan Fong · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

If learning the language begins when children are young, those children will speak Māori and the language will be natural to them.

Kayne - Gisborne

Posted by Kayne Huriwai · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

Being a raukura or a graduate of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori movement I hold te reo Māori close to my heart and will continue to speak and learn.

Kaylee - Shannon

Posted by Kaylee Wicks · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

As a proud New Zealander, I feel as though it is important for us to learn and embrace our diverse culture as a whole.

Kayla - Rotorua

Posted by Kayla Christiansen · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

Ko te reo te reo oāku tīpuna - ka tau ai te māori i roto i taku wāhi mahi.

Kayla - Kirikiriroa (Hamilton)

Posted by Kayla M · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

To me being Māori I always felt whakama that I didn’t know my pepeha or know any basics.

Kaye - Cambridge

Posted by Kaye K · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

It's part of our school's strategic plan to become bilingual .

kay - wellington

Posted by kay webster · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

.

Kay - Christchurch

Posted by Kay Robertson · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

I'm an immigrant and I feel it's very important to learn the history of colonisation, to protect te reo and to honour Te Tiriti.

Katy - Porirua

Posted by Katy Bagrie · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

I've recently discovered how good our maori kiwi singers, song writers are during lockdown.

Katrina - Te Kuiti

Posted by Katrina Winn · September 14, 2020 7:22 PM

I am so proud of what makes NZ unique and growing up in a predominantly Maori area, I was always so respectful and appreciative of Maori and Maori culture.