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'

Sharing reo while also learning is a passion for me I believe we are the people to raise this language and teaching the next generation.

Christine

Māori is lacking within Aotearoa. Let's change that!

Cam

As a country with our own indigenous language we are mindful of the importance of one's language for our culture, identity and heritage. And we are proud to support other indigenous cultures and languages. Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. A country without a language is a country without a soul.

Embassy of

As a wāhine Māori, I believe it's important to maintain the reo of my tīpuna, it's beautiful and unique language, to let it go would be the biggest dishonour ever. Growing up surrounded by Te Reo, I want our tamariki and the future generations to experience the same and for those who didn't get the same opportunities to have that chance

Raiha

I'm on my te reo journey with the wananga o aotearoa so I want to start speaking I also watch maori tv opaki it helps me a lot I can follow the program its interesting basic te reo

Evelyn

Kia kaha te reo Māori

Indie

Te Reo Māori is more than a language - embracing it allows us to begin to understand the wairua of what it means to be Māori. As a non-Māori doctor in Aotearoa, Te Reo adds richly to my work both practically and relationally with patients and whānau.

Hazel

Tena koe Tena korua Tena koutou Kia ora I could go on. What better way to welcome a new day with a simple greeting. I chose to participate because te reo Maori was never spoken in the home. Dad attended a school where the use of te reo Maori was banned and punishable by strapping. I do not want my tamariki and mokopuna to miss untold opportunities to immerse themselves in te reo Maori me ona tikanga. So, I have chosen to immerse them into books, korero and waiata. I studied extramurally through Te Wananga o Waikato under the tutelage of Te Rauhina Te Hau and Wayne Ngata.

Te Rangi Rangi

Maori and proud

Adele Anne

it is important to me to take part because I would like to celebrate and show respect for the Māori community.

alana

My mum has started to do a Te Reo Maori course and has inspired me to learn the language I was born with

Toa

To help encourage others to embrace our beautiful language, to start learning and continue to make it a part of their everyday lifestyle

Mitchell

It is important to me as a New Zealander for us to embrace “our” language. It is my husband and children’s right to be a part of their culture and by speaking Te Reo they can embrace it fully. As a pakeha and a teacher I feel it is my duty to do my best to continue growing our language back to the way it should be! Dual with English.

Katrina

So many reasons. . . commitment to being a bi-cultural society and raising the profile of Te Reo and Te Ao Maori; taking every opportunity to promote Te Reo and Te Ao Maori working towards a progressive, society truly reflective of the Aotearoa we want to see realised! The more we can profile all things Maori the easier it will be become more inclusive, equitable and enriched people.

Katie

Because I have 3 young sons with a Samoan father who is strong in his Reo and Fa'a Samoa. . . . . because I grew up with no Reo and felt disconnected from my people, my land, my culture and myself. . . . because there is a stigma around being Maori, a stigma that i refuse to allow my children to grow up with. . . . because stereotypes SUCK! Because I am a women, an educated women of mana who is raising the future both at home and in my profession. CHANGE starts with me.

Allison

If you live in Aotearoa you should appreciate Te Ao Maori! Te wiki is an easy and fun way to celebrate te ataahua Maori culture.

Natalie

It's a beautiful language and my kids speak it better than me!

Anna

Wanting to learn more about our official language

Emma

To role model to others that māori can be easy n simple and not to feel pressured into being fluent to participate.

Jean

to share the language with my class, to inspire them to use te reo maori with more confidence

Karen

To tautoko kaupapa Maori whenever I can

Erica

He puna wai, he puna kai, he puna reo, he puna ora, ita ita! Maori, their culture and language have been a source of inspiration to me, enriching my life and opening my eyes to new ways of looking after each other and the world. The least I can do is learn and give back - mauri ora!

Shane

To help with health equality and be a good kiwi

Alicia

because I am proud to be Māori

Stacey

To protect Te Reo in Aotearoa ❤️

Laury

Mōku ake nei te waimarie i tupu e au i raro i ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori, i raro i Te tahuhu o Te Aho Matua āno hoki. What’s my why? Kia whakahokia ki te haukainga.

Ao-Tu-Te- Hanga

My why would be its instilled in me its who i am so to be able to reach deep within and bring it to the surface means everything to me. Its means belonging and it means my tupuna heritage hasn't gone unnoticed.

Sophia

Celebrating this significant moment in time is essential for our language to be recognised, valued and to be normalised. The future of our people and our well being will only grow stronger. It makes me feel proud and re-assured as I continue on my own unique journey as a 50yr old Maori women in Aotearoa.

Sheena

I believe that we should all know a little of the language of our country

Jo

I believe te reo is so important. I love the challenge learning and the sense of accomplishment when I can read or understand something in te reo Maori! ! So important for my son as well as next generation of kiwis.

Tania

I want all New Zealanders to be proud to be kiwi's. Proud of our māori culture, regardless if we are pakeha or māori. I want māori to feel that their culture is an important aspect of NZ that is valued, nurtured and seen everywhere.

Vicki

To keep the language alive and part of our taonga of Aotearoa.

Jordan

Any step towards honouring Te Tiriti ō Waitangi is a go in my books!

Jessica

As a Linguistics student, I am aware of the importance of not only keeping this unique language alive, but making sure it thrives. All over the world, native languages are dying out in favour of the mainstream language introduced by colonisation. It is every Kiwi’s responsibility to make sure this doesn’t happen here, which can start with simply making Te Reo a small part of everyone’s daily routine.

Madison

Because it’s such a beautiful language! I feel it’s an important part of my children’s heritage and will do all I can to encourage them to learn and embrace it.

Zoie

It is important to me because of my mokopuna and their mokopuna and the many generations to come. The language is their identity it is their heritage and their inheritance. Taken from the waiata " He Kakano Ahau. . . my language is my strength an ornament of grace" written by Dr Hohepa Tamehana.

Cyndi

If I dont learn Te Reo at my kura I dont know what the staff are saying and I dont know what the community are saying because everyone speaks Maori up here in Panguru. I moved home from Auckland to learn Te Reo so I am living it and breathing it everyday in my mahi and in my community.

Alexia

My identity is important to me. We have lost alot already but if we all did 1 little thing we would grow abundantly.

Mate

Me uaua ka rongo i te reo Māori ki te hapori, ina koa ki Ōtautahi. E nako ana au ki te whakamāoritanga o te reo Māori. Mā tēnei ngohe kotahi miriona tātou e koke whakamua.

Taurapa

My husband is fluent in Te Reo Māori and my baby attends Kohanga Reo. I am a Māori who was born and raised in Australia and was removed from my culture and language growing up and feeling a disconnect in identifying as a Māori wahine and trying to connect to who I am through my Te Reo Māori.

Marion

Its important for because it is apart of who I am, I value who I am and what I am, and that is being a Maori. Also my mum encourages us siblings to learn and know our language

Stormy

A sense of belonging and connecting by using te Reo

Sheryl

I’m Maori and so want to learn this beautiful language. I’ve heard of the Rako method (I think that’s how it’s spelt) but no one in my area teaches that. I’m 65years old and apart from a couple of greetings and a few other words I know nothing. But it’s never too late to learn. . . is it.

Bonnie

Kia noho ora ko te reo maori hei kai puumau mo taku arero, otira hei reo tuatahi mo aku uri e whai ake nei

Hinemaia

It is about honour and respect for Maori, the first people of this land. Also, it is a beautiful language and the children of the future deserve to have this taonga preserved in a lively active state.

Marie

I am from the UK and had very little knowledge of tikanga or te reo Maori before I arrived two years ago. I believe that embracing Maori culture and integrating into the lives of all young New Zealanders is an essential part of the New Zealand curriculum. I have a responsibility to engage my learners with Maori culture and am committed to using te reo Maori as much as possible to support this.

Verity

I am part maori and I support all maori events. I am and have been learning te reo maori for many years, having gone no further that beginners class. I love kapa haka and have often been the group leader in many songs. This is why I am looking forward to joining in the celebrations on this day. To korero, waiata and whakarongo.

Hinerangi

Mainstream Education in early childhood education needs the opportunity for more Kaupapa Māori. Ko tēnei te wawata o ngā Kaiako ki te whakapiki i te mõhiotanga o te so Māori ki roto i ngā ora tamariki mokopuna.

Charles

Because if our language was never taken away from us I wouldn't need to be one of the one million

Talya

I am proud to be Maori and encourage my tamariki to use the reo they have and to be proud of our heritage. Its important to participate in positive activities that everyone of any level can participate in.

Maria

To make the use of te reo a more every day thing - I want my children to learn better than I did.

Natalie

We actively promote te reo Maori every week of the year and especially during Maori Language Week. Te reo Maori should be an integral part of our day and we want our tamariki to learn correct pronunciation, to use te reo confidently and to keep building on their knowledge.

Allenton

I am currently 28 weeks pregnant and it is important to both my husband and I that our baby is raised around Te Ao Maori. We are lucky enough to both work on the Marae (husbands) and baby will be raised in and around the Marae. We want our Whare to be a bilingual speaking Whare.

Tatiana

I live in NZ I should know enough Te Reo to at least get by!

Heidi

Its good to know the basics of Maori language as most of the people in our care are Maori. So knowing the langi=uage helps us to know their cultural background better so that we can beter interact with them.

Solanki

Diversity in language and culture and respect for all people is important to me!

Jacone

I want to promote the importance of Te Reo to all NZers

Paula

Because everyone needs to join in so te reo Maori can thrive

Catherine

There is so much beauty in Te Reo Māori - I'm really keen to learn much more!

Leyla

I think it's important for every New Zealander to learn and speak te reo, kia ora ai te reo mō āpōpō. I'm also a public servant, and this is an important part of Maihi Karauna

Kristin

We are wanting to improve our Treaty Partnership, starting with improving our Te Reo and Tikanga

Don

Want to teach te reo to my tamariki

Terence

We think that it is every child's right to celebrate and enjoy Te Reo.

Meg

I've just become a citizen of Aotearoa - I think it's important that I can understand and communicate in the official languages of my new home, and especially te reo Māori as it something unique that defines and sets us apart as a nation.

Andy

good for speaking in te reo and whanau

Haylee

To understand

Zane

To hold on to our culture, traditions, history as maori. grounding, connects me to my roots, self expression, teach my decendants

Hayley

To gain greater understanding of te au Maori and be more responsive

Fiona

To learn more about the history and people of our land and show respect by learning the language

Katherine

Its very important that we take part, we need to be diverse and embrace Te reo Maori as in defines who we are as a people and if we encourage all New Zealanders to not be shy and learn it helps to unite us even further. In Hawaii no matter what ethnic background I interacted with in every single store or person I met greeted me with Aloha , Mahalo. I wish one day that New Zealand will also follow , its good for tourism, its a good way to be. I crew plan to show the Aroha next week and encourage Te reo Maori

Elizabeth

Maaori is the Native Language of Aotearoa.

Sam Toka on behalf of

We had always been aware of our responsibilities to this generation of children of Aotearoa in regard to Te Reo. Our commitment was deepened by one very special bi-lingual teacher, Whaea Tina, who initiated the foundations of Kapa haka with teachers and children. At this centre children, teachers and whanau embrace both Kapa haka and the tikanga in which is it embedded.

Horiana

For my whanau To grow and embed te reo in my pre school school

Katie

I think cultural identities are important and we, as a nation, have a collective/common culture that includes te ao Māori. I like to think I am an advocate for my Māori (and Pasifika tamariki) and what to empower them in their cultures.

Nina

My sister is a Maori teacher and she encourages me to participate in any activities or hui in my area.

Brea

Kia whakaputa ai ahau i taku tautoko mõ tõ tātou reo rangatira😊

Te Angihau

RIP Global is a New Zealand based Maori technology company. We want to continue to showcase our culture and our commitment to advance Maori within the technology sector. In addition, we want to continue to embody our people culture of 'he tangata' as we are all about our people. We have a culture of inclusiveness and awareness and we wish to continue our education and knowledge of tikanga. Sharing our experiences is how we learn and appreciate who we are and where we come from.

Waimarie

We always celebrate te wiki o te reo māori and this is a new and unique way to be involved.

Teresa

It is important for me to expose our kids to te reo Māori as much as possible so that they may have pride in being Māori and and be proud of our iwi/reo taketake.

Ruiha

Being māori is why it’s important to me

Te Mare

Because we need to keep the language alive It is an official NZ language Its the language of the tangata whenua Learning it young kindergartens age is a great place to start

Bellevue

I have a deep respect and love for the indigenous people of Aotearoa and want to take part in promoting and expanding the beautiful culture so we can learn more.

Samuel

Kia rangona e taku mokopuna te reo Māori e rere ana. Kia tipu ake ia i roto i te reo Māori.

Maxine

We are a team of dedicated teachers who provide bicultural practices in our kindergarten to strengthen Te Re Maori among our tamariki and celebrate Maori language and culture within our kindergarten community.

Rowena

Because speaking te reo should be as natural as breathing for the tamariki of Aotearoa.

Lynne

My children have the honour of being quarter Maori and I would like to learn alongside them so we all gain knowledge and insight to this part of their culture

Ines Burzig

It’s our partnership, Aotearoa’s official language,

Viv

To understand more about Maori culture.

Aurelio

I am passionate about my culture. I have always been envious of my family/ friends and colleagues who are able to speak te reo fluently and admire there courage of learning. I have begun my reo journey by studying. I have a goal to become fluent in te reo the reason being is when i have my own children/mokopuna i would like them to know who they are, their whakapapa, to be able to speak their own language with whanau and also be proud to be maori.

Baye

I see it as my responsibility as tangata tiriti.

Alex

Because te Reo is our language, and we should all speak it to some extent. I would like to see it used more frequently in conversation, and I want to learn more about Māori concepts as they relate to our world so I can adhere to them in my everyday life.

Kay

To learn more about the language and culture and the meaning behind it.

Viv

I only moved to Aotearoa last year. I think it’s important for every new kiwi to learn as much as possible about NZ’s culture, and what better way to do so by learning te reo māori!

Frank
Ruth

Mo a tātou tamariki mokopuna te take x

Tania

Te Reo should be spoken in New Zealand as much as English. I encourage those in my workplace to use Te Reo and practice as much as possible. Māori culture is our culture, is us. We need to be better.

Ashleigh

I'm taking part because! Te reo Maori is a beautiful language that is unique and special to Aotearoa. I think new immigrants should learn some korero as well as all nz citizens. I'm learning later in life and while I wish I had learnt earlier, but better late then never! Karawhuia!

Kristin

I'm taking part because! Te reo Maori is a beautiful language that is unique and special to Aotearoa. I think new immigrants should learn some korero as well as all nz citizens. I'm learning later in life and while I wish I had learnt earlier, but better late then never! Karawhuia!

Kristin

I'm taking part because! Te reo Maori is a beautiful language that is unique and special to Aotearoa. I think new immigrants should learn some korero as well as all nz citizens. I'm learning later in life and while I wish I had learnt earlier, but better late then never! Karawhuia!

Kristin

I think it is important that we recognise and our tamariki recognise the value in speaking te reo maori.

Cathy