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'

Its important to me as a Maori that our language lives on for our future generations to come

Hineipaketia

He take nui te reo, Te Reo Maori ki ahau na te mea, he taonga te reo na a matou matua tupuna. Ko te reo ki ahau te orokohanga o te motu o Aotearoa. Ka tika me whakanuia i te kaupapa nei me rangona kia ora mo ake tonu. mo a matou Tamariki Mokopuna.

Letisha

We are lucky to live in NZ and to have the Māori culture. This culture however needs to be authentically elevated and interwoven through all of NZ society, the language and understanding of Te Ao Māori, Tikanga etc is vital for all New Zealanders to know, understand and respect.

Gabrielle

Te reo Maori is 'our' language in Aotearoa NZ - we all have a responsibility to ensure it thrives and is part of every day NZ

Jo

Te reo Māori is Aotearoa’s language, we should all know the basics at least.

Margie

It's the first and native language of Aotearoa and my husband and kids are Māori. We're all actively learning, including our 5-year-old being in bi-lingual at school. Our agency is Māori-owned, so it's something we want to celebrate.

Laura

Kia kaua to tatou reo e rite ki te moa! kia korero maori i nga wa katoa.

Pikiteora

I would like to improve my own knowledge and skills in Te Reo so I can confidently integrate the language into my every day life

Rachel

As teachers/parents/and people of Aotearoa, we work hard towards building our reo and sharing this with our teaching community.

Dallas

From my students: I used to be illegal - we are trying to make it come alive again We want it to come back properly. It used to be the only language. Every year there's a celebration of every culture. It's our unique language. It's good to learn about the history of different countries. It's also nice to have the experience of learning another language.

Kapa

It's important to me to take part this year because it's small actions that make a big difference. If we hear te reo, see te reo, share te reo more, it will be a bigger part of our life. I want that for me and I want that for future generations. It's the right thing to do.

Catarina

I have a deepening respect and awareness of Maori heritage and culture, and want to continue to learn.

Nick

Because I care deeply about supporting the indigenous people in this land to be able to realise their tino rangatiratanga, in all areas, especially health.

jenni

Ko tōku Reo tōku oranga. He oranga tonutanga mō tātou te iwi Māori mō ōku tamariki ki te kura, mō ōku ake tamariki hoki.

Marge

To support the indigenous language of our nation

Rosei

I married into a Maori whanau & have 2 beautiful tamariki who I want to tautoko & help fill them with mana about being Maori!

Dani

My why is my Tupuna, my whakatupuranga, my wairua.

Trudy

Knowledge I want to learn

Jeneane

We live in Aotearoa and Te Reo is a beautiful language and an important part of the culture here. Mostly its because I value Te Reo as part of our society going forward. . . its respect and a long time coming. I wish I had learnt it at school.

Linda

Language is a taonga, and it is a privilege to receive an invitation to share this gift. Te reo Maaori is increasingly becoming part of NZ mainstream culture. I have noticed immigrants embracing te reo as a way to feel included as "kiwi".

Maureen

Te Reo is a poetic, beautiful language that needs to be celebrated and woven deeper into the fabric of our society.

Sonya

I have a special connection to this kaupapa. My nanny taught me and my sister te reo māori in our home in the late 70's early 80's. She passed away when I was 7 years old and my whānau were not equipped to carry this taonga on for us so we then lost our ability to kōrero. However I always had the passion for learning te reo māori. Now as a māmā, nanny and a wife we believe we can normalise te reo māori in our home and support friends and whānau to learn, speak and live te ao māori i ngā wā katoa:) Mānuka takoto, kawea ake! I accept this challenge! !

Francie

I want my children to be proud of their own Māori inheritance and I want to learn to be more confident with te reo Māori when speaking in public. Māori is Aotearoa's indigenous language and should be cherished as such.

Lynda

As a kaiako in the Early childhood sector we work from a bi-cultural curriculum and it is important to us as a centre to be active in supporting our tamariki in te ao Māori.

Gina

It is important to me because I value the bicultural history of New Zealand and the connection to my whakapapa that I gain when I incorporate Te Reo into my everyday communication. It is important to me as a Educator to uphold the values of Treaty of Waitangi and ensuring my Maori rangatahi feel valued and supported within my Kura.

Marisse

So I can grow in my knowledge and understanding of tikanga, kawa and Te Reo.

Bridget

Te Reo Maori is a beautiful language and it needs our support. Also it helps to give mana to Maori which is very important as the Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa

Roger

To get involved in Maori Language week and learn something new.

Segie

I never knew Te Reo growing up and being a mum I want my child to embrace her culture. When she learns I learn and so forth. Always encouraging correct pronunciations where I work to.

Aj

My reality is that my friends are all raising their babies to speak reo. I want to ensure that even as their non-Māori aunty, that I support keeping Te Reo alive. I also want to see my colleagues engage in using Reo more than just a token 'Kia Ora' here and there.

Shannan

We should celebrate our unique and beautiful Maori Culture, language, and history every day so that new generations grow up being proud of our people and live in a country that has equal opportunities for all.

Moana

Because It is my culture and my heritage that has been lost through the generations, I think it of it as a privilege to speak the language, all my cousins and older and younger can speak it and it makes me feel left out so I want to learn my reo.

Emma-Lee

I firmly believe that learning te reo māori is beneficial to ALL of Aotearoa, as we Māori look at revitalising our reo as well as our stories.

Truby

Nā Tā Hēmi Henare te kōrero, "ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori. . . " This whakatauākī is my reason to take part, my reason why. Te Reo Māori is more than a language, it is whakapapa, it is whānau, history, traditions, and the very essence of what it means to be Māori.

Ngawini

The Maori language is part of our heritage and culture in New Zealand and I would like to be able to use it in order to honour that.

Caroline

Why, is our whanau and Moko, also we resonate with the Tikanga, Manaaki, wairua and te reo Maori as a way to live. We are enjoying learning and it connects us with our Maori whanau and encourages our non Maori whanau to learn so connects us all and brings us closer together.

Christine

Te Reo contributes to Aotearoa's unique place in the world and we must help it flourish!

Peggy

Te reo Maori deserves to be spoken, heard and loved

Helen

To ensure that our reo flourishes and is maintained for our future generations.

Wihapi

Kia whāngai i te kākano na tūnohunohu mā i whakatō. Kia puawai mai te kākano rā hei kitenga mo te ao. Ko te reo me ona tikanga, koia te kākano e korerotia nei e au.

Hikawai

Te Reo Māori is the beating heart of the foundation of this land. Promoting this beautiful language and being part of a movement to make it not a novalty to speak Te Reo Māori on a regular basis.

Sophie

It's really important to our identity and keeping the language alive. Lots of pressure is put on the small number of people who know our language. It's important for the rest of us to help.

Bryan

Ko te reo te mauri ora, e taea ai te kī - He Māori ahau!

Te Kamaka

We want to inspire our tamariki to use te reo and keep the language alive! We have a decent sized platform to share and promote Māori language with our whānau

Kelsey

It is one of our National languages and the language of the native people of Aoteroa. I have whakapapa to Waikato so Māori and Te Reo Māori has a special place in ny heart.

Jenna

We must keep our language alive and provide inspiration to our younger generation x

Jodahn

For my kids- to show them that to korero Māori is an important part of being a New Zealander and should be a normal part of everyone's life 😊

Jen

For my children who are of Maori decent

Rebecca

Te reo enriches New Zealand, it's important to recognise its significance and play a part in making te reo part of daily life and conversation.

Alaina

As a migrant in this country it is important for me to honour mana whenua of this land and their reo.

Anabel

I want to communicate with them.

Joseph

Always wanted to be more comfortable with te reo Maori and this is a great opportunity

Kath

I believe it is important to acknowledge and preserve Maori culture, customs and language.

Pam

I no longer what to be ingnorant.

Janine

As i come from a maori family its important to build my relationship with my ancestors

Brooklyn

Because it is the indigenous culture of Aotearoa therefore it is part of our Kiwi culture and who we are.

Andrea

Keen to futher my knowledge of Maori

Nesan

For my friends

Jess

To be successful in bi-cultural practice at work

diane

Because I live in New Zealand and its part of our history

Emily

te reo Māori is unique to NZ, if we lose it here it's gone forever. I lived in Wales for several years, everything was bilingual from road signs to ATMs - I would love to see that here!

Rebecca

I hae a random reason: I just really like learning languages:) I remember listening to a course of lectures on linguistics by John McWhorter and he mentioned that te reo Māori is the best example of language revitalisation in the world. I thought that, well, since I call this country my home now, I want to be a part of it by learning it's language:)

Polina

As an educator I recognise how important it is for us to teach and normalise Te Reo in our country.

Carolyn

To acknowledge the journey and actions people took 40 years. I want to be part of learning and keeping Te Reo Maaori alive.

Dianne

My children are Māori <3

Kate

Im doing this for my friend Arwen who encouraged me to sign up

Anita

I believe that Te Reo Maori is an important and unique part of our culture in Aotearoa and I want to see it grow in it's use and understanding by those who live here. It is also a key component of Te Tiri o Waitangi

Dian

It is Aotearoa and it is our language to embrace and maintain.

Rachael

I need to get over my previously bad experience and get familiar with te reo maori This is important, I had wanted to learn the maori language since I was form 2 but due to bad experience (bullying) it really shook my confidence

Vanessa

Im doing this for my friend who is so supportive of the maori language movement

Sophie

All languages are precious. I used to teach Maori to school kids.

Kate

Doing this for my friend Arwen who encourages me to learn more te reo

Abi

growing the language

Sophie

Coming from a different culture myself, it's important to go back to the roots and to not forget the culture and the language of where we came from.

Alyrra

Maori is a language unique to Aotearoa, and it is up to all NZers to keep this reo alive so we can pass this taonga on to future generations I also want to increase my cultural awareness and honour the indigenous people of this land to in some small way repay the debt of privilege I have received as a pakeha from historic colonisation .

Kristin

So my daughter understands the importance of this language for all New Zealanders as she grows up in Aotearoa

Kirsten

There's two main reasons I'm learning Te Reo Māori. The first is to help me to reconnect with my Māoritanga and the second is so that my boy doesn't grow up without the reo like I did. It's very exciting to see so many people participating.

Tarryn

for my whanau and friends

Paris

Because the Treaty being ‘lived’ out in Aotearoa between Māori and Pākehā is the basis for a flourishing New Zealand. I would love to see Māori being able to express and lead how they see racial justice, equity and reconciliation looking in Aotearoa and then Pākehā (putting my hand up 🙋🏻‍♀️) getting alongside to do that with Māori.

Nikki

Te reo Māori is a beautiful language that we are privilaged to have. I dream of a country where it is common and normal to hear (whakarongo?), see (titiro?) and speak (kōrero) te reo in every community. I'm trying to kōrero Māori even the few kupu that I know because I want my tamariki to embrace it too.

Coral

for my friends

Francesca

For me, embracing and promoting Te Reo Māori is a small part of being a good Treaty partner.

Elize

To join as one nation with mutual respect and love.

Sharon

I realised a couple of years ago that te reo Māori was like a musical accompaniment to life in NZ but I couldn't understand it. I've started my journey of learning te reo Māori and, while it is difficult to maintain the mahi and find the time, I am just trying to be a little bit better each week, even if that is just learning one new word.

Luke

living in aotearoa to embrace its national language

Hazel

I work for NZ Police and our team celebrates diversity. This is a good opportunity for us to come together to learn.

sally

Its our heritage and responsibility to so.

Paula

For my friend who encourages me to speak te reo

Marija

Feel free to share) For all NZDF comrades, our DDI team will be taking part in Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori | Māori language moment at 1200 Monday 14 September. Feel free to join our team at attachment (even if you are doing your own thing) or create your own group (or even by yourself). There are many things that define Kiwis and connect us to our home but te reo Māori is unique, lets celebrate and protect this beautiful language

Brad

For School

Carla

As a GP I'm keen to see equity in health outcomes between Maori and non Maori in New Zealand

Chris

As a pakeha teacher in a NZ school I want to become more confident with Te Reo.

Richard

To celebrate the taonga of te reo Maori, and to support it's widespread use so that the language continues to flourish and grow.

Sarah

Because it is a beautiful and important part of New Zealand culture!

Amanda

Tikanga and te reo Māori belongs uniquely to New Zealand and it is our privilege and our responsibility to nurture both. As a pākeha New Zealander, I want to see the wrongs of the past addressed and New Zealanders of all backgrounds embracing te reo and te ao Māori. I also want to be able to keep up with my children’s te reo skills!

Sarah

To take part in a significant cultural event.

Jesse

Being part of 1 million reflects our commitment to becoming an authentically bicultural Aotearoa.

Steph

There are many things that define Kiwis and connect us to our home but te reo Māori is unique, lets celebrate and protect this beautiful language

Brad

As a mother, educator, and citizen, I'm passionate about both combatting racism and celebrating who we are . . . and who we are is a unique, bicultural nation, in which Māori are tangata whenua.

Kate

Because it is the indigenous and precious language of Aotearoa and the more we can become bi-lingual the better and richer our society will be. My wife (and therefore our children) are Māori and we would like to embrace the culture more.

Matthew