Share your why

Rikirangi - Waipukurau, Central Hawkes Bay

Posted by Rikirangi Hape · September 14, 2020 11:40 AM

āku tamariki.

Rhondalyn - Gisborne

Posted by Rhondalyn Akuhata · September 14, 2020 11:39 AM

because i want to feel like belong and feel united with the others who are learning and celebrating.

Rhonda - Auckland

Posted by Rhonda Goris · September 14, 2020 11:39 AM

Because Maori culture and language is So important to our country, Aotearoa!

Rho

Posted by Rhonda Thomson · September 14, 2020 11:39 AM

It is important for me to take part because I have a voice and I want to use my voice to help everyone know of the importance of revitalising Te Reo Māori.

Reshmi - Auckland

Posted by Reshmi Kumar · September 14, 2020 11:39 AM

This will help me to being awareness of Te Reo language within the children we teach.

Reinga - Australia

Posted by Reinga Hawkins · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

As a children We where not encouraged to learn our Maori language but we did join the couture group as little Kidd’s and I joined the Maori couture group at college my I loved to my biggest accomplishment from that was travelling as part of a bigger group of other skits and acts from Kuranui collage and preform in neighbouring towns schools Five in total it’s where I learnt to sing.

Rebecca - Wellington

Posted by Rebecca Palmer · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

We've been making more of an effort in our workplace to use te reo Māori.

Rebecca - Auckland

Posted by Rebecca Hollett · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

As an Australian that now calls NZ home, it has been important to me to learn and understand te reo Māori and the culture and history of Aoteoroa, and to continue my learning through events such as this.

Rebbeca - Whangaparāoa

Posted by Rebbeca Carr · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

I am currently training to become a primary school teacher and promoting Māori language is important to me.

Rangitiaria - Rotorua

Posted by Rangitiaria Rika · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

He ngākau nui nōku ki tōku ahurea Māori, kāore he mea tua atu ki a au te whakatairanga i tōku Māoritanga.

Rangimarie - Wellington

Posted by Rangimarie Day · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Kia ora,.

Rangi - Hamilton

Posted by Terangi Hapuku · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

To connect to my culture and the language of my ancestors.

Raiha - Invercargill

Posted by Raiha Johnson · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Te reo Māori is a taonga for all our tamariki in Aotearoa.

Rahkeem - Brisbane

Posted by Rahkeem Auda · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

It is important for me to take part because this is my partners culture and language.

Rachel - Otautahi

Posted by Rachel Smith · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Because I think it is so important to be an active citizen if Aotearoa and learning te Reo is an integral part of this.

Rachel - Coromandel

Posted by Rachel Benmayor · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

I have just returned to settle back to NZ after many years abroad.

Rachel - Auckland

Posted by Rachel Brackenridge · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

This is part of my cultural heritage, Also people / children of Maori decent are well incorporated and thought of In my workplace there’s quiet a drive when it comes to Maori Families, so I think even if it’s just the basic words we use during Maori language week least it’s been incorporated and we are been multi cultural.

Rachael - Whakatane

Posted by Rachael Townsend · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

I'm living in town where everybody speaks beautiful te reo.

Quinton - Christchurch

Posted by Quinton Hurley · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

To preserve the Te Reo in New Zealsnd and normalise it to make it a part of our daily lives.

Pip - Pukerua Bay

Posted by Pip Greig · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Te reo is the national language that we want to help keep alive in all our tamariki and whanau that we work with.

Pieta - Sydney

Posted by Pieta Pirini · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

I'm half māori and lebanese but I was only taught english & I want to do what I can to learn te reo maori.

Phyl - Kawerau

Posted by Phyl Savage · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Learn the language.

Paula - Christchurch

Posted by Paula Rountree · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

I want to participate more in Maori events and to honour our national language by increasing my ability to use it.

Paul - Ōtautahi

Posted by Paul Evans · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Because it creates a strong shared bond with others who also value the reo and who recognise the importance of the reo as a unique language with unique values implicit in the language.

Olivia - Kirikiriroa

Posted by Olivia Barr · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Because Maori language and culture is the most beautiful part of our country and I want to keep it around.

Nikau - Dunedin

Posted by Nikau Reti-Beazley · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Ki te kore to tatou reo Maori, horekau to tatou mauri.

Nicole - Wellington

Posted by Nicole Saddlier Brown · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

It’s important for us kiwis to be proud of our roots and represent our country with our ataahua culture 😀.

nick - Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch

Posted by nick kapica · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Isthmus exists to create unique places.

Nick - Dunedin

Posted by Nick Clark · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

For my partner.

Ngawai - Hamilton

Posted by Ngawai Horotini · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

I am on my te reo maori journey, started during lockdown.

Ngata Three (31 Participants) - Auckland

Posted by Andrew Barrett · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

Te Reo is a passion of mine and one that needs to be engaged in with all areas of life.

New Zealand Opera - Auckland

Posted by Awhimai Fraser · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

New Zealand Opera is our national opera company and we have been thinking a lot about what this means for Aotearoa.

New Zealand - Auckland

Posted by New Zealand Post · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

We want to be a part of the 50,000+ other registered language champions celebrating te Reo with a defining moment: the Māori Language Moment.

Nettie - Auckland

Posted by Nettie Burton · September 14, 2020 11:38 AM

As a volunteer community worker I do work with whanau and love to learn more about te Reo Maori and maoritanga.

Neroli - Wellington

Posted by Neroli Ayling · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

One of my work colleagues (Ellie) is really getting into speaking te reo Māori and learning more about mātauranga Māori.

Natasha - Cromwell

Posted by Natasha Hayes · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Because I am Maori.

Natalie - Hamilton

Posted by Natalie Toombs · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

To grow my use of te reo Māori in practice, celebrate how much I value te reo Māor, and to be a role model for the staff and students at Endeavour School.

Natalia’s - Wellington

Posted by Natalia Lagos Jefferson · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

I have been living in NZ for 7 years and I have just started learning Te Reo since last year when I started working for the public service.

Muhammad Tamzid - Warkworth,Auckland

Posted by Muhammad Tamzid Khan · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

To be a part of one of you.

Morgan - Palmerston North

Posted by Morgan Swampcroft · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

I arrived here as a refugee from family violence and attempted murder, able to come because of Australian citizenship, born in England.

Morag - Barcelona

Posted by Morag Makey · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

My mum was a Kiwi who moved to Australia when she was 24.

Moko - Rotorua

Posted by Moko Edmonds · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Because Te Reo Māori is the Conner stone of all Māori values.

Moey - Auckland

Posted by Moey Fatialofa · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Te reo Māori is the language of the land!

Miritana - Sydney

Posted by Miritana Hughes · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Living in Sydney is an obvious separation from whenua, so practising Te Reo Maori is a fulfilling and wonderful way for me to reconnect with my roots.

Miriama - Turangi

Posted by Miriama Prentice · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Kia rere te reo Maori kia Maori to tātou ao❣️.

Miriam - Auckland

Posted by Miriam Hartmann · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

I value the place of Te Reo in our schools and want more people (students and staff) to embrace and develop their understanding of Maori culture and language.

Michelle - Te Popo

Posted by Michelle Singfield · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

My whakapapa descended from Rangitane and I have been researching my heritage.

Michelle - Tauranga

Posted by Michelle Marston · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Keeping the language alive helps keep the culture alive.

Michelle - Feilding

Posted by Michelle Burrow · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

My amazing grandchildren are going to be bi lingual, and I want to be able to encourage them and learn beside them.

Michelle - Christchurch

Posted by Shell Stewart · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

To continue to uphold te tiriti o waitangi and to learn more for the future of aoteatoa.

Michelle - auckland

Posted by michelle brown · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Our centre is committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Te Waitangi, and are striving to encourage Te Reo amoung our tamariki and educators.

Mere - Palmerston North

Posted by Mere Waru · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

To keep our reo alive and honour our tipuna who paved the way for our tikanga and reo to survive and maintain my tino rangatiratanga.

Mere - Auckland

Posted by Emere McDonald · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

It's a recognised language that needs to be heard more.

Memory - Ohingaiti

Posted by Memory Lyon · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Our tamariki feel a stronger sense of mana Atua and connection when speaking te reo Māori.

Melanie - Kāpiti

Posted by Melanie Chaytor · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

Te reo is one of the things that makes NZ special.

Mel - Timaru

Posted by Mel Heath · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

To keep the language alive.

Mel - St Andrews, Hamilton

Posted by Mel Hawken · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

It is important that everyone in Aotearoa has at least a basic understanding of te reo and the more people who can korero Maori, the more support there will be to help others speak and understand more of the language.

Mel - New Plymouth

Posted by Mel Abbott · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

As a pakēha on this land, I want to dig deep into stepping back but also absorb what is so willingly shared by the indigenous of Aotearoa.

Meg - Wellington5432!

Posted by Meg Davies · September 14, 2020 11:37 AM

We should all be using te reo Māori in our everyday life.

mayana - Palmerston North

Posted by May Karena · September 14, 2020 11:36 AM

To normalise Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga at our kura.

Mautiki - Horowhenua

Posted by Mautiki Mete · September 14, 2020 11:36 AM

I am limited in Te Reo Maori.

Matthew - Sapporo

Posted by Matthew Cotter · September 14, 2020 11:36 AM

Solidarity.

Marlie - Whangarei

Posted by Marlie Walker · September 14, 2020 11:36 AM

I would love to be confident speaking Te Reo at school.

Marissa - Te Kuiti

Posted by Marissa Campbell · September 14, 2020 11:36 AM

I'm proud to be Maori.

Maringi - Christchurch

Posted by Maringi Parnell · September 14, 2020 11:36 AM

I'm lost and I would like to take the time to learn about Te Ao Maori.

Marilyn - Christchurch

Posted by Marilyn Gray · September 14, 2020 11:36 AM

Because we are kaiako and it's important to us that tamariki and whānau value and learn te reo Māori.

Marie - Welliington

Posted by Marie Hewlett · September 14, 2020 11:35 AM

I grew up when maori was new in schools, I know colours and counting but that's about it.

Marie - Manurewa East

Posted by Marie Hibbs · September 14, 2020 11:35 AM

Piki ake i tōku eo Māori.

Marc - Clive

Posted by Marc Leney-Smith · September 14, 2020 11:35 AM

I need to learn and to practice the regular use of te Reo, as, although I am not of Tangata te Whenua descent, I am a child of this land, Aotearoa.

Mara - Tāmaki Makaurau

Posted by Mara Elwood · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

Te reo is the language of the people of Aotearoa and in order to be truly bicultural and honour all the people of this country we need to make this part of the everyday.

Mandy - Otautahi

Posted by Mandy Perry · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

The more I practise the more I will comfortable using Te reo Maori in everyday communications all the time, not just this week.

Manaia - Hamilton

Posted by Manaia Te Wiata · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

I was not brought up with the gift of te reo maori.

Maia - Palmerston North

Posted by Maia Horn · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

Te Reo Māori is a taonga.

Madeleine - Exaltación De la Cruz

Posted by Madeleine Barrera · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

Maori language and culture has been sidelined for too long (that’s putting it mildly).

Lynda - Auckland

Posted by Lynda Finn · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

It is very important that I understand the spoken word and that I pronounce words correctly.

Luqman - Tamaki Makaurau

Posted by Luqman Hayes · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

Te reo Māori is not only an official language of Aotearoa but its indigenous language.

Luke - Otaki

Posted by Luke Sherman · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

.

Lucian - Maroubra

Posted by Lucian Te Kahu · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

Because our language is beautiful and sacred.

Louvain - Christchurch

Posted by Louvain Ander · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

Te reomaori is our language.

Lou - Geraldine

Posted by Lou Ochsner · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

I grew up in Wales when the movement to grow the Welsh language was in full swing.

Lorraine - Fremont CA USA

Posted by Lorraine Libatique · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

Keeps the Māori culture, language and traditions alive and brings global exposure, deepens appreciation for the Māori way of life.

Lorna - Porirua

Posted by Lorna Moeahu · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

So our language isn't lost.

Lorella - New Plymouth

Posted by Lorella Doherty · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

For me as a Pākehā, learning te reo Māori (even just some), but most importantly pronunciation (especially of names and place names); is a step toward healing and unity.

Liz - Christchurch

Posted by Liz O'Kane · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

te reo is becoming more common in media, workplaces, schools.

Linley - Rolleston

Posted by Linley Thomas · September 14, 2020 11:34 AM

I think all New Zealanders should value our first language so that it is protected and not lost.

Leilani - Kirikiriroa

Posted by Leilani Naera · September 14, 2020 11:33 AM

E ora ai tō tātou reo, me kōrero.

Laura - Tāmaki

Posted by Laura McKenzie · September 14, 2020 11:33 AM

To realise the dreams of my ancestors.

Latitia - Chch

Posted by Latitia Paniora · September 14, 2020 11:33 AM

I come from a family where on one side the hurt and damage of colonisation separated us from the reo/culture and on the other side it was beaten out of us.

Latisha - Wellsford

Posted by Latisha Sinclair · September 14, 2020 11:33 AM

I feel Te Reo Maori should be compulsory at schools just like English is.

Latifah - Taupõ

Posted by Latifah Phillips · September 14, 2020 11:33 AM

I love learning languages, but this way it is the language of the country I love and I can use it every day.

Laskarina - Auckland

Posted by Laskarina Chaldeakis · September 14, 2020 11:33 AM

After eight years of living in Aotearoa and picking up many words in te reo, I‘d love to be able to start putting those words into sentences and, perhaps one day, even have a conversation in te reo.