Te pae kōrero | Our why

There are many things that define New Zealanders and connect us to our home: and te reo Māori is one of them.

Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to learn te reo and see it become normalised and spoken nationwide. Explore them below and share your favourites to inspire others to get involved.


Add your 'why'

Te Reo is an official language of Aotearoa and also a beautiful language. Children at school are open to learning Te Reo and enjoy the experience. If they can leave my class at the end of the year with Te Reo that they can use they can be proud and enlightened New Zealanders.

Belinda

I want to be part of a collective which honours Māori culture and connect with Aotearoa on a deeper level.

Belinda

I've lived in NZ 13 years now. I know some Te Reo but am still uncomfortable with pronunciation despite having taken a semester-long course. I would like to be better at pronunciation. I also want to learn Maori mythology.

Kristin

Te Reo Maori is a special language which is spoken by very few people in the world. We need to revitalise Te Reo and get more people to speak it.

Bayi

Because it is a great way to come together as New Zealanders.

Barb

Because I would like to start my own journey and I see this moment as a great starting point.

Barb

So that our native language can stay alive

Aywsha

For my own self knowledge but more importantly for my pepi who id love to grow up embraced, confident & proud of Our Reo. My big sister & 2 toodler nieces are my biggest Inspiration with how fluent & beautiful they korero Reo Maori which has motivated me to join in!

Awhina

Te Reo, is the most beautiful language and is an intergal part of NZ and should be an important part in the NZ school languages.

Averil

As a Maori raised away from my marae in the city, I have had to overcome barriers to reconnect to my whanau and return home. These social and cultural barriers gave me the incorrect impression as a child that to be Maori, was to be lesser. It's important to take part to ensure these barriers are torn down and our tamariki have an instilled sense of pride in who they are from the beginning. To be Maori is like having an anchor given to you by your tupuna, so that your identity will never be lost at sea. Every Maori child should be given this gift of identity and sense of self. It is their birth right.

Ava

Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu. This is for those who have lost their voice and need to be heard! This is for my friends This is for my home stay whanau who are on their own journey of reclaiming what being Māori and speaking their reo is for them and honoring their journey This is for addressing the racism in my own whānau This is the wero for me to do better as a treaty partner and kōrero when I can and make it a lifestyle so it becomes cool to kōrero Māori. This is for normalizing learning our indigenous language in NZ and making our school curriculum actually uphold what it says it wants to achieve by becoming first bi-cultural before it becomes multicultural.

Ataylia

Aue-ko te reo.

Askani

To help signal the importance of te reo Maori, the understanding of other cultures generally (including through language), and to help inspire my tamariki to do the same

Ashley

Te Reo is a beautiful language that should be shared and encouraged a lot more, I speak a lot and want to continue to learn. I believe It is so important

Ashleigh

It is important for our children to be inspired about Te Reo, so we need to ensure as teachers we are helping to promote the language

Ashleigh

Ko te reo Māori he taonga tuku iho.

Ashlea

It is important as part of our obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, to all embrace the Maori language and culture as being New Zealanders. At my school te reo is part of our culture and everything we do.

Asha

We have a beautiful language, I'd love to speak te reo, Fluently, an have the knowledge to know a lot more about the Maori world, an what it's got to offer me while I'm still alive.

Arthur

Ko te reo Māori he tino tāonga tuku iho. . . .

Shaw

Its my identity as a Maori

Aroha

To encourage all of our tamariki to celebrate Te Reo Māori.

Ardmore

For the class to recognise the significance of the week and reinforce the use of Te Reo as an everyday language.

Aprile

We are Maori, Maori is a way of life, it's not a race, you don't have to be forced to be Maori, it comes from the Heart. You can try and inslave us with prison, drugs and alcohol, you can try and take our Whenua our REO our Children but you can never take away what God himself assigned us to do and that is to take care of everything that he has placed on this Earth, not just the Moon the Stars the Mountains and the Oceans by everything in it including each other. We have prayer for everything and everyone to thank the Lord for instilling in us the wisdom to know how to treat others and take care of what the Lord himself gifted us all, a deep level of consciousness we call Wairua. We are Maori we cannot help it, we are the Children of God, we are Tangata Whenua. . . . He aha te mea nui?. . . . . He Tangata! ! ! He Tangata! ! He Tangata. . .

Apanui

My why. . . I feel like I'm being called home, back to my Marae, to my Koro and whanau. I feel it deep down a yearning to be a part of the conversation. The korero. I feel proud and ataahua when I speak Te Reo. I feel the need to teach my husband, my son and my Kuri, plus our future pepi.

Antoinette

Im a big proponent in preserving culture and learning your culture. I feel being a NZ born, that we should be learning and preserving the Maori culture and language. When people move overseas, they learn the language of the country. I dont see why we shouldnt be making it a must here to learn Te reo Maori

Antoinette

We wish to keep the language alive and teach it to our tamariki at our Kindergarten

Antoinette

It is such an important part of living in NZ and understanding our country and cultures

Anthony

I think it’s important for everyone living in New Zealand to at least be able to greet in Te reo, and to feel comfortable doing so. It should be our standard way of greeting each other.

Anthony

My whanau are on their reo journey as well as myself. We are from a small community where reo is not widely used so want to try and encourage others to use the language as we are.

Annmarie

Te Reo is a rich part of our country's past, present and future and we would like to see it used far more, so it is fully integrated with everyday life and language in Aotearoa. Our project has been gifted a whakataukī by Ngāi Tūāhuriri, which says, "Mā ō tātou ringa, ka rewa anō te tuara o tō tātou whare karakia" and means in English, "With all our hands the roof of our Cathedral will rise again. " Kia kaha Te Reo Maori

Annemarie

Ia rā, ia rā, ko te reo māori tō tātou reo tuatahi i te akomanga, nō reira, he rā pērā i ētehi atu rā o te wiki. Āpōpō, ka wānangahia e mātou mō tā tātou take kia whāia tō tātou reo Māori, kia maumahara i te whawhai nui. ❤️🙌🏽 Ko au te reo, ko te reo ko au.

Anneke

Because this is about our heritage.

Anne

Te reo is one of the official languages of Aotearoa so should be celebrated and normalized. I believe I have a responsibility as a NZ citizen to ensure this happens.

Annalise

Te reo, he taonga. I pouri au, kaore e taea e au ki te ako te reo Māori ki taku kura tuarua. Kei te moemoenga au, ka taea e tātou ki te korero Māori i ia kura i roto i Aotearoa. I was sad when I was unable to learn Te Reo Māori at highschool. It has been my dream since then that every student in every school in Aotearoa should be able to learn this. It is a joy we should be entitled to in New Zealand. The language is a treasure. . .

Anna-Marie

It’s important for me to take part in this moment because I am Māori. I’ve felt out of touch with who I am and this is a chance for me to get back on the waka and jumpstart my learning journey.

Anna-Marie

It is critical to use and support the use of te reo and especially in an education system that has marginalised Maoridom for so long. Maori culture is so special and unique to NZ and using te reo helps keep it alive.

Anna

I believe Te Reo is the language of NZ and needs to be celebrated

Anna

As I'm from the wakatio our Maori launge is dieing out and we need to speak Maori more

Anna

I’m originally from UK and have been living in NZ for 17 years. I’ve always LOVED the Maori language and been learning Te Reo for a while now. My kids are actively learning too and we make sure we use as much as we can at home. Such a beautiful language that we should celebrate x

Anna

To keep the language alive and teach tikanga

Anna

because it is important to recognise this language

Ann

As a nation we need to normalise the use of te reo and commit to growing the use of te reo by everyone!

Ann

Te reo Maori is what makes us unique and it should be celebrated. I'm proud to be a New Zealander and it is part of who we are.

Ann

All of NZ need to embrace Te Reo, it's part of eliminating racism and honouring Te Tiriti.

Anita

For the future of our mokopuna

Anihaera

Participate in any way to promote and encourage listening and speaking our beautiful Te Reo Maori - and not just in Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori

Ani

Basic human right to speak your own language Colonisers took that away from Māori Let’s all work together to give it back

Angela

Embracing the diversity of our society is important. Respecting and learning from the first New Zealand people, the Maori, is equally important. Language is key to culture and understanding it better will help my whanau connect with our new home in New Zealand.

Angela

to support Te Reo growth and to increase my learning and use of Te Reo

Angela

I work with an amazing group of colleagues who support teachers everyday through their love of this language.

Angela

Keeping Te Reo alive in New Zealand is the most important action we can take to keep all people who identity with Maori culture connected and engaged. People who are connected and engaged with language and their heritage have better outcomes during their lives.

Angela

It's empowering. The connection with people the environment and the past and future builds a better me.

Angela

He taonga te reo Māori. Ko āu he pēpi o te reo Māori engari āku mokopuna e haere ana ki te kohanga reo me tipu ake ōu rātou reo, me tipu ake te reo o te whānau.

Ange

Because to be in true partnership we need non Māori to step into Māori spaces just as Māori have stepped into theirs for years.

Andy

So keen for Te reo to be taught in our schools, however really want the whanau to get the Mahi

Andy

Te Reo Māori is the language of Aotearoa. School is the place to learn. Our Kura is a school in Aotearoa, sooooooo we will use Te Reo Māori. :-) Can we get Te Reo Māori made compulsory soon? We have a unique place in the world, the more unique it is the more we will treasure it. Kia kaha Aotearoa!

Andrew

Ki te whakamana, ki te whakanuia hoki i to tatou nei reo. Ma te reo ka ora ai te iwi

Andrew

Because i want to learn more about the indigenous culture of this incredible country

Andrea

Te reo is vital to Aotearoa and our identity. Language is a gateway into culture and the more of us who can speak te reo means the better, I hope, we will understand each other.

Andrea

It is important to keep the native languages of countries alive and I think we should all know the basics. As an immigrant it also helps you to intergrate in a new culture and feel more at home.

Andrea

After years overseas I have lost the language. It’s important to me as a Maori woman, to learn the language and culture. It is embarrassing that I cannot speak or understand Maori.

Ariana

He aha ai? My why. The future is our rangatahi, our tamariki. The importance of identity, belonging is critical in our genration and generations to come. It starts with me, with us.

Yorana

Because te reo is the heart of Māori culture.

Amy

Te Reo Maori is a beautiful languge . My whanau and I are slowly learning together. The more we use it the more we love it!

Amy

I want show to my young students that I value and respect the Maori language by unifying with other like minded people and sing in Te Reo with them on Monday 14th at 12pm.

Amy

We need to keep te reo Maori and the Maori culture alive in New Zealand. We need to honour its significance in our country and the significance of the people who it belongs to.

Amy

I want to be better connected to my Maori identity and to bring it to the forefront of our communities

Amos

Ki te tautoko te kaupapa.

T.Riwai

For out tipuna Take responsibility for our reo Celebrate our culture

Amiria

Part of my culture. Has significance to NZ. Part of our identity.

Amelia

its important to take part because idk

Amber

As a visitor and a traveler I would like to honor Aotearoa and learn more of it’s culture

Amarilis

It is important to keep this beautiful language alive and well used.

Amanda

He taonga te reo rangatira, te reo māori mā tātou. He mea nui ki te kōrero me te tautoko i te reo tūturu o te whenua nei o Aotearoa, ia rā, ia wiki, i ngā wā kātoa. He kaupapa whakahirahira tēnei ki te tautoko hei whakanuia i te reo ataahua nei, ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa nō hea tātou. He taonga tuku iho tēnei o āku tamariki me taku mokopuna. And it's definitely cool to kōrero!

amanda

I am an early childhood teacher and committed to bicultural practice

Amanda

I believe that te reo Maori is such a beautiful language and a huge part of our history. It is a travesty that it has been suppressed to the point where a resurgence is necessary. In my mind it should be a normal part of our day and every new zealander should be fluent. I've got a long way to go but will get there.

Amanda

My daughters passion for the language and to embrace my partners culture. Being English i have an appreciation for history and miss my own culture, and know how important it is to understand your history.

Amanda

My grandparents were punished for speaking their own language, now I have every opportunity to.

Alysha

I've spent my entire life having to justify my identity as a kiwi and my place in Aotearoa. Despite having a kiwi father, my appearances take more from Filipina mother. I've always had to prove myself as a Kiwi. I no longer feel the need to justify myself now that I am an adult but I still feel it is my responsibility to help preserve the native language of the land I call home. If I didn't feel a part of this country before, I'd surely feel part of it now taking on Te Reo. I want my identity to be more than a descendant of New Zealand settlers, I want to practice a way of living and speaking that is unique to Aotearoa - that's what I want to be part of my identity.

Alysa

Born from a British emigrant and my fathers questionable history I have never felt truly settled in my role as Pakeha. But by using te Reo in everyday life I am more comfortable in this role

Allicia

I want to take part in this moment because I'm really enjoying my te Reo Maori class at WITT in Taranaki. Taking part at 12 today will be a good way of showing my enthusiasm for learning as much as I can about Maori language & culture. It's part of being a New Zealander.

Alison

As companionship with this kōrero from afar; from the attempts to revive Scots Gaelic and in solidarity with speakers worldwide especially those violently displaced from their Speaking communities as refugees.

Alison

Language is such a massive part of Maori culture and who we are as New Zealander's. I want to learn Maori because it's a beautiful language. But I also feel we have a collective responsibility to help this language flourish. Learning more of the language will aid my understanding of Mātauranga and, in doing so, allow me to better carry out my role at work. Taking part in this activity gives me the extra incentive I need to follow through on my goals.

Alison

I came to Aotearoa from England when I was a young adult, and have loved making my home and raising my family here. I feel I belong in Aotearoa, and I believe that our bi-cultural heritage is part of what makes Aotearoa such a special place. My growing understanding of Mātauranga Māori enriches everything I do.

Alie

Te reo Māori is a beautiful, living, language that is unique to Aotearoa. It connects us to our place here and each other.

Alicia

As teachers we interweave Te Reo in our teaching practice and encourage the children to learn. We feel that this is important because we live in NZ and need to keep the culture alive.

Alicia

Because te reo is rich, metaphorical, beautiful and can teach us so much about the world. The more we use it, the bigger it's reach!

Alicia

Keen to encourage anything that brings attention to Te Reo.

Ali

For my myself and my children

Alfie

For me it's knowing that when my Mum went to school her classmates were beaten in the classrooms and playground if they were heard speaking Te Reo Māori. Knowing that whole generations grew up silenced, and the children of those generations lived in the shadow of fear and a feeling of inferiority fills me with such terrible sadness and shame. We are all in this canoe together, NZ 2020, we rise through adversity, we pull together, we celebrate each others strengths, we support and lift each other when we stumble or tire. It's time now to allow everyone to have a voice. I'm taking the first steps to learn and speak a language to open a doorway to understanding and appreciation. I'm grateful to have a choice to learn Te Reo Māori which is a treasured gift and not just language it's an art form, a celebration of life. The discomfort I feel stumbling over my first words of Te Reo will never be as painful as the beatings those children received and the emotional scars they wore. Every journey starts with one word, then two. . . . . . we can do this New Zealand. What's stopping us being 1 in 5 million?

Alex

I am Maori and I want to continue learning. I work for a Government Department that has relationships with hapu and iwi. I want to lead by example for my team.

Alex

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

Alex

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

Alejandro

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

Aleena

As a teacher, I am also a learner. I am learning alongside my students. I believe it is important that children in this country are learning te reo and understand the importance. I am passionate about seeing the next generation have a deeper understanding of the importance of speaking te reo and using it freely.

Alarna

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

Alana

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

alana

Learning and contributing

Alan

For my children who are maori

Aimee

It is simply respectful to acknowledge Te Reo Maori

adith