Share your why

Alex - Auckland

Posted by Alex Greaves · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

Important because I know that my reo needs a lot of work and I need to improve my vocab to a point where at least I am able to have conversations i te reo maori.

Alejandro - New Plymouth

Posted by Alejandro Barrientos · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

It's part of a country and we live in a place where we can embrace and enjoy our awesome, unique culture!

Aleena - Hastings

Posted by Aleena Herbison · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

To be part of the revitalisation of Te ao Māori Through korero, mātauranga and wairua.

Alarna - Papatoetoe

Posted by Alarna Smart · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

As a teacher, I am also a learner.

Alana - Feilding

Posted by Alana Tousain · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

I want to be part of showing pride and love for the unique language of our country.

alana - auckland

Posted by alana mcalpine · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

As a registered teacher I think it's important children have the option to learn about the native language of nz and to help keep the language around for years to come .

Alan - Whakatane

Posted by Alan Keeber · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

Learning and contributing.

Aimee - Whangarei

Posted by Aimee Moore · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

For my children who are maori.

Adith - Auckland

Posted by adith stoneman · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

It is simply respectful to acknowledge Te Reo Maori.

Adele - Frankton Hamilton New Zealand

Posted by Adele Hauwai · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

Proud to be Maori.

Adam - London

Posted by Adam Tay · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

It's important for me to take part so that I can inspire more people to speak te reo and revitalize the Māori language, as well as having the chance to be one in a million either starting out or going forth in their te reo journey.

Abii - Christchurch

Posted by Abii Powell · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

I think it's important for me as an immigrant, especially from the UK, to learn more about the heritage of this land.

Abigail - Auckland

Posted by Abigail McAlear · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

Being both a pākehā and an American living in Aotearoa I think it’s so so important to learn from and respect the tangata whenua.

Abby - Tāmaki Makaurau

Posted by Abby Cunnane · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

He taonga te reo Māori.

Abby - Christchurch

Posted by Abby W · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

Connection to the whenua my tupuna lived.

Abbie - Gisborne

Posted by Abbie Morgan · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

As respect to te tangata whenua.

Aaron - Whangarei

Posted by Aaron Taitoko · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

This language is very beautiful to hear and fun to learn.

Aaron - Kawerau

Posted by Aaron Falwasser · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

For me taking part in this is very important as it identifies who I am as Maori as well as my whakapapa.

Aaliyah - Christchurch

Posted by Aaliyah Khan · September 14, 2020 2:36 PM

It is important to take part so we can keep our native language alive and help boost the culture throughout the community.

Aaliyah - Auckland

Posted by Aaliyah Naden · September 14, 2020 2:35 PM

It’s important for me as a tangata whenua because it is a chance to revitalise my own language and to be able to pass it on to future generations.

Wiremu - Hamilton

Posted by Wiremu Chambers · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

Ko te reo Māori te tāhuhu o te whare kōrero Māori.

Whatanui - Auckland

Posted by Whatanui Flavell · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

People have spent their lives for what I have.

Wendy - Auckland

Posted by Wendy Burgess · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

E pirangi ana ahau, kia mohio aku tamariki i te reo Māori.

Wayne - New Plymouth

Posted by Wayne Morris · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

Te Reo is our country’s heritage and point of difference.

Waiora - Kaitaia

Posted by Waiora Mete-Cherrington · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

I want to take part in anything to help revive our culture.

Wai - Havelock North

Posted by Wai Bruce · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

Since connecting with my birth mother who is Maori and Ngapuhi, I have always wanted to learn and speak Te Reo Maori.

Victoria & Bill (Daughter & father) - Hamilton

Posted by Victoria & Bill (Daughter & father) Pickering · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

Because te reo should be my first language & is one of our recognized here, It would have been an advantage being raised bilingual unfortunately that was not the case.

Victoria - Tamaki

Posted by Victoria Travers · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

To enhance the mana of te reo, and honour the continuing revitalisation of this taonga.

Vicki - Wellington

Posted by Vicki McKay · September 14, 2020 11:45 AM

As a New Zealander and Pākeka, I want to follow our commitments under Te Tiriti and support tangata whenua.

Vicki - Christchurch

Posted by Vicki Attrill · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

I am from the UK and would like to know and understand more of the Maori culture and history.

Vialetta - Gisborn

Posted by Vialetta Harris · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

Coz I'm Maori.

Veronica - Palmerston North

Posted by Veronica Tawhai · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

I te mea ka haere raua tahi te mauri o te reo Maori me te mauri o nga kawa, nga tikanga e taea ana te arahi i nga ahuatanga torangapu o Aotearoa.

vanessa - wairarapa

Posted by vanessa moore · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

you see the Maori language used more and more - at work a lot of the new products have a Maori name and I would like to say them correctly.

Vanessa - Auckland

Posted by Vanessa Preece · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

It is a beautiful language and part of what makes NZ unique.

Tui - Hamilton

Posted by Tui Fau · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

Because this is our culture.

Tui - Gisborne

Posted by Tui Marino · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

Me piki ake te ora a tō tatou nei reo rangatira.

Tui - Auckland

Posted by Tui Ah Loo · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

Its about honouring our tipuna and their fight for the preservation of our reo .

Triyoga - Auckland

Posted by Triyoga Dharmautami · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

An old proverb from my birthland says wherever you place your feet, there the sky above you to stare, to respect.

Tracey - Rotorua

Posted by Tracey Gray · September 14, 2020 11:44 AM

We are committed to culturally responsive pedagogy at our kura.

Trace - Carterton

Posted by Tracey Higgins · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

It’s important for me to be able to connect through language with other people.

Toni - Palmerston North

Posted by Toni Strawbridge · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

It's so special to know our language.

Toni - Auckland

Posted by Toni Sinclair · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

to me, Te Reo is part of being a New Zealander.

Tomai Ariki - Wairoa

Posted by Tomai Ariki Whaanga · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

So i can learn my Te Reo Maori better.

Tina - Wellington

Posted by Tina Dustdar · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

It's important for me to honour and show my deep respect to our country's ancestors, and make up for the lack of respect in the past.

Tim - Sunshine Coast

Posted by Tim Wells · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

I’ve just started my journey of learning my reo, I’m hungry to learn more and pass the hunger on to my whanau.

Tess & Kevin - Kaiapoi

Posted by Tess Ashley · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

So I can learn for my tamariki.

Temairiki - Christchurch

Posted by Temairiki Williams · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

"KO IA RA HE TAONGA, .

Teina - Kelvin Grove

Posted by Teina Strongman · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

I am learning te reo Māori in order to become fluent enough to have everyday conversations and to find employment in the Māori sector.

Te-Arani - Whangarei

Posted by Te-Arani Bennett · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

E arohanui ana ahau ki tō tātou roe Māori!

Te-Ao-Rangi - Tauranga

Posted by Te-Ao-Rangi Pomare · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

I love our beautiful language.

Te Okahurangi - Hamilton

Posted by Te Okahurangi Ngahana-Hartley · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Pai rākau, pai hua.

Te Hiraka - Kirikiriroa

Posted by Te Hiraka Chase · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

He raukura au no Te Aho Matua.

Te Ao Marama - Christchurch

Posted by Te Ao Marama Roberts · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Because Te reo māori is part of my identity it has impacted who i am today and the more people who get involved the longer it will live within Aotearoa and te ao whānui.

Taysha - Taranaki

Posted by Taysha Ryder · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Its important that i part take in this to join others in keeping and empowering our culture.

Tatiana - Rotorua

Posted by Tatiana Tango · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

It is important for me to take part so that my baby can grow up learning te reo māori and for my future generations.

Tatiana - Auckland

Posted by Tatiana Hohepa · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Our Taonga.

Tanji - Auckland

Posted by Tanji Ahsan · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Connecting to roots of new zealand.

Tania-Jane - Whangarei

Posted by Tania-Jane Whatarau · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

It is who I am!

Tania - Tāmaki Makaurau

Posted by Tania Howarth · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Because I want to see my country evolve and grow towards a much stronger bicultural Whānau of 5 million.

Tania - Kelston

Posted by Tania Cartman · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

I am proud to be Maori and to be able to speak some Te Reo Maori.

Tamara - Porirua

Posted by Tamara Robati · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Spent a lot of time wishing I could speak te reo.

Sydney - Auckland

Posted by Sydney James Skipworth · September 14, 2020 11:43 AM

Was never aloud to speak te reo back when I was young.

Susan - Christchurch

Posted by Susan Lau · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Te Reo is important for the health of our country.

Steven - Richmond, Tasman

Posted by Steven Bosecke · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

because it is a part of the story of New Zealand.

Stephanie - Dunedin

Posted by Stephanie Trickey · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

I have recently learnt more about New Zealand history and I don't want to see te reo Māori become extinct.

Stephanie - Brisbane

Posted by Stephanie Scott · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Ko te reo te mauri, o te mana māori.

Stacey - Putaruru

Posted by Stacey Vincent · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Not only can I brag about being one in a million but It’s also to plant the seed of Te Ao Māori through Te Reo!

Sonia - Glenfield

Posted by Sonia Cashell · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Ko taku mokopuna.

Siobhan - Te Upoko-o-Te-Ika / Wellington

Posted by Siobhan Lynch · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

I love learning Te Reo Māori.

Sinnead - Wellington

Posted by Sinnead Cameron · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

To bring back maori traditions aswell as language.

simon - Kirikiriroa Hamilton

Posted by simon archard · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Language is culture and we are bi cultural so we are missing out on one culture of Aotearoa by ignoring the language.

Simon - Auckland

Posted by Simon Whitlock · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Kia whakaora ai te reo.

Siiri - Auckland

Posted by Siiri Wilkening · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Te Reo Maori is one of our official languages, and I would like to be able to use more phrases beside greetings and the occasional word to do it justice and to connect more deeply with my chosen country of residence.

Sidonie - Clarkville

Posted by Sidonie Gentry-Tuck · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Kia kaha te reo Māori.

Shona - Auckland

Posted by Shona Myers · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

I need to learn and understand New Zealands indigenous language, and stories so I can help myself and whanau to be present in such times of change.

Shirralee - Tauranga

Posted by Shirralee Hohaia · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Te reo Māori is a national language, it is a taonga and should be both learnt and used so as not to be lost.

Shirley - Tokoroa

Posted by Shirley Patterson · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Maori is part of my culture and I feel more a part of it when I can communicate in te reo.

Sherri - Porirua

Posted by Sherri Burgess · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

To keep our native tongue alive.

Shaun - Wellington

Posted by Shaun Wilton · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

To show it’s never too late to learn Maori and use Maori language in every day life.

Sharon - Waipukurau

Posted by Sharon Sciascia · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

The importance of identity.

Sharleen - Auckland

Posted by Sharleen McClay · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

Because to kōrero Maori is to respect our tangata whenua, Goes a little way toward actively upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and helps me raise my children to become beautiful adults.

Savannah - Auckland

Posted by Savannah Whenuaroa · September 14, 2020 11:42 AM

I’m a wahine Māori and I’ve got a pepi and it’s important that we find our turangawaewae in these times, given that indigenous knowledge and practices are crucial to helping combat climate catastrophe.

Savanah - Central Hawkes Bay waipukurau

Posted by Savanah NukuNuku · September 14, 2020 11:41 AM

For my four tamariki.

Sarah - Waikato

Posted by Sarah Maclean · September 14, 2020 11:41 AM

Te Reo is our native language and an important part of who we are as a nation.

Sarah - Reporoa

Posted by Sarah Murray · September 14, 2020 11:41 AM

Currently I'm enrolled with Te Wānanga o Raukawa learning more of the reo.

Sarah - Christchurch

Posted by Sarah Beaton · September 14, 2020 11:41 AM

We feel as a preschool and part of a larger community that it is important that we celebrate the Maori culture.

Sarah - Bombay

Posted by Sarah Green · September 14, 2020 11:41 AM

I want to bring the maori culture alive in an area where it has become silent.

Saphine - franklin auckland

Posted by Saphine salvation · September 14, 2020 11:41 AM

To teach my children so they can be confident when speaking it.

Sam - Melbourne

Posted by Sam Skinner · September 14, 2020 11:41 AM

As a non-Indigenous water professional, it is important to connect with Indigenous language and culture and learn from the mistakes of the past and help to build a brighter and more inclusive future that celebrates a culture of care for land and water.