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'

For our indigenous Māori culture and language to be our Kiwi, New Zealand, Aotearoa way of life, to live and to share, not just be the gateway tourism of New Zealand

Donna

Learning about new languages and cultures is a passion of mine as I believe communication is the key to connect people.

Jyoti

kiwa

As a pākeha who's tīpuna hail from Europe, I think it's so important that I learn enough of te reo Māori and tikanga that I can respect and honour the culture of tangata whenua in a meaningful way.

Amy

I want to be part of the movement to normalise the use of te reo Māori. Te reo Māori is our taonga and should be spoken by all people in Aotearoa.

Amber

Nā te mea, te reo Māori te reo tuatahi o tēnei whenua

Laura

To increase my knowledge of Maori

Lester

There are many benefits in learning another language, including understanding, appreciating and respecting another culture. I am an immigrant came from Persian culture, having Farsi language as my mother tongue and English as my second language. Learning other languages and cultures at any age is a joy that one should not miss.

Hoda

Being an import from London, I know my knowledge of NZ history, culture and language is lacking, I need to take time to learn and understand more to help me become a more rounded Kiwi

Peter

To be part of something uniquely different that unites us all

Ingrid

Because te reo Māori is a tāonga and it is the first language of this land. It is also a beautiful language which can broaden our sense of the world and who we are.

James

To learn to use my Mihi to introduce myself at a gathering or meeting

Nicky

Having been an expatriate Kiwi for most of my life, my exposure to te reo and tikanga Maori has been limited. Joining the Māori Language Movement is an opportunity to learn and connect with New Zealand's culture and heritage.

Miriam

It’s what makes Aotearoa unique. I am passionate about sharing Te Ao Māori with our tamariki through waiata, pukapuka me nga kemu Opens up a whole bunch of skills and learning opportunities for our tamariki

Salealii

Moana

To show everyone how much we love our indigenous language and to help all kiwis to feel they can be a part of a beautiful project to protect and celebrate indigenous lanuages.

Tania

From Abby (6) "its good to learn Maori words, because the Maori people where the first one's here in New Zealand"

Penny

I am driven to learn Te Reo Māori for my son who is wanting to learn about his culture, where he comes from and learn how it all began. I am also driven to learn more to keep the language alive especially in my classroom and in my family's daily life.

Tanya

it is one of Aotearoa - NZ official language Te Reo needs to be part of our daily language engagement. So that my mokopuna hears their native language everywhere and experience positive identify elevation.

TeAo

to learn te reo so i can understand what people saying in maori or if i need help translating a word

Seini

Ka korero Maori ahau i nga wa katoa, a kei te hiahia ahau kia puawai to tatou reo, kia taea e au te korero ki toku whanau, kia tu matou hei whanau kaha ki te korero Maori.

Tamara

Learning about Te Ao Māori should be important to all kiwis - and furthering my reo journey has been a delight.

Charlotte

Kia ora Koutou. My why is many. Strengthening my connection to Aotearoa. Its people, its history, its culture. Te reo Māori is very unique to Aotearoa. I think that is awesome!

Duncan

Te Reo Maori is the language that unites us as tangata whenua and pakeha - it is unique to Aotearoa and a foundational part of our identity as New Zealanders.

Chris

Wellington Museum shares the stories and taonga of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Te reo Māori connects us to the past. Without te reo Māori, many stories would go untold. Ako ako ako! Find free te reo Māori zines for tamariki here: https://www. museumswellington. org. nz/tereomaorizines/

Lizzie

My "why" first and foremost, is my family. I want them to know how important and significant te reo and te ao Māori are. Secondly, my students: I want them to know that we need to respect and treasure tikanga and reo Māori and I want to model that.

Cathy

This is a way to keep te reo Māori alive, revitalised and is the norm within my everyday life and will be come normal in all lives of whanau of Aotearoa. No mattaer who they are or where they are from! ! Mauri ora!

Molly

To celebrate and honour the diversity and beauty of Aotearoa.

Rochelle

Te Aroha - Waiata Sign 2021 Can you please sign the waiata Te Aroha

Richard

Te Reo Maori is a unique and special language and is a part of us as Kiwis. It's important to make it a daily part of our tamariki's life to make it part of their whole life.

Pip

I have spoken Te Reo Māori for the majority of my life and I love to talk to enhance understanding. I love speaking Te Reo Māori and the different dielects that we have. I play the guitar and teach kapahaka waiata for the enjoyment of learning.

Rongomaiwahine

Ko te reo Māori he motuhake mo ta tatou whenua.

Hone

Dallas

Taking part, is bringing a moment we can all identify as people of Aoteraroa and celebrate and embrace the feeling, identity, culture, history, and language. It's good to kōrero Māori, kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui, kia ahau nei.

Dicey

My heritage. My whakapapa. My ancestors. Its a part of me its a part of who I am. Its a part of who we are in Aotearoa.

Olivia

As a Kaiako, it is my responsibility to support and encourage children to learn and understand te reo Maori. This will help extend their competence and confidence in expressing themselves as well as enriching their communication skills. I want to role model to the next generation how to respect tikanga Maori by learning the language and the values that make us unique and special as a nation. When you develop a respect for our tikanga and te reo Maori, you will be able to respect other cultures, develop positive feelings towards everybody and everything else around you including the environment and yourself. One of my favourite whakatauki, "Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini". "I come not with my own strengths but bring with me the gifts, talents and strengths of my family, tribe and ancestors". KIA PAI TO WIKI.

Vesi

What drives us to take part is our passion to reclaim our reo not only for us, but also for our Tamariki and our Tīpuna. We want all New Zealanders to want to embrace our reo and love it as much as we do!

Loopy

To acknowledge the importance of te reo in our history and our country. To recognise the wrong's that have been done in taking the language away and to support it flourishing again. I've spent a bit of time understanding this waiata from Te Ataarangi - Kotahi Kapua - that a single person can have a great impact. The more of us that support, the more Māori can know we care that te reo Māori is a special part of our country.

Victoria

It’s important to me because all about Kia kaha Te reo Maori me nga korero wa KATOA me waiata

Haylee

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. ” What is the most important thing in this world? It is people, it is people, it is people. . . and I am one of those people, so I choose to join and to learn.

Deb

He taonga te reo, kia kaha tātou ngā tauira o te reo!

Hera

Marie

To share , respect and celebrate a culture that is a valuable part of our history and to learn to speak the language as it is one our third languages.

Gail

Megan

Language is the key to understanding. Learning is social so the more we learn together the more we learn

Maurie

Philomena

Philomena

Ko tētahi o ngā whāinga matua o mātou o Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki kia ūkaipō te reo Māori ki Ōtaki ! ! !

Denise

Te

Te

Te

Nōku te reo! Nōu te reo! Nō tātou te reo Māori!

Te

It is said that it takes three generations to restore language, me being the first and my sons will be the second. It is hugely important to us as a whānau to reclaim, and live in Te Āo Māori i ngā wā katoa. Reo kupu have such deeper meanings and the tikanga that sits alongside the reo goes hand in hand with that learning, Te Āo Māori makes more sense the more I journey into it.

AmberJade

Ko Te Reo te poutawhā e iri ai ngā atonga a ō tātou Matua Tupuna. He puawai putiputi te maoritanga Ko āna taketake ko te reo Tapshia nga taketake Ka mate te puawai putiputi Whakakorengia te reo Ka mate te maoritanga Kei enei kupu whakatauki te pūtaketanga o ngai tātou. Ko te wawata nui kia whiua e tātou te reo ki te ao kia rāngona i tona rangatiratanga. He toa ahau Ka taea e au nga mea e hiahia ana ahau He taonga ahau ki tenei ao

Judith

Etha

Te ao Māori is important to me personally but I also want to share this beautiful, rich, unique culture with our school whānau. We want kaiako and tamariki to embrace our reo!

Karrie

It is important to me because I do not want our reo to be lost.

Kelly

It’s all about Kia kaha Te reo Maori me korero mai I nga wa KATOA

Haylee

Sharing waita with nga tamariki to promote a love of learning the language

Megan

English is not my first language, I am culturally Lithuanian but was not encouraged to learn the language, and it has been largely lost to me. However Te Reo is accessible to be and is important part of my identity as a New Zealander.

Ray

We will be encouraging our tamariki to be involved as te reo Māori is part of who we all are as New Zealanders - no matter what race we identify with.

Renee

It’s important to me keep our language alive to learn myself an pass onto my kids as , it was not passed onto me due to my grandparents generation being beaten for speaking it their first language which in turn it skipped 2 generations an im stopping that . It’s our identity, our culture and I won’t let that Taonga disappear again.

Naez

It is so important to embrace and cherish the tonga of Te Reo .

Sue

For me Māoritanga and Te Reo are at the heart of Aotearoa. I want to contribute to making bicultural NZ real & strong. The essence of me is nurtured by this strong awakening.

Maree

I am a teacher and I know how importay it is for our nga tamariki to kay the bery essential foundations of language acquisition. Music is my effective tool in teaching them the language andnour tamariki really enjoys the music time I have with them

Alma

I am an educator and it is my obligation to honor Te Tiriti o Waitangi to keep Te Reo alive in Aotearoa. I come from Te Waipounamu and my partner is Ngai Tahu, so it is important for my whanau too.

Ben

Ko te reo Māori te tuapapa o tōku ao, he taonga tuku iho nō ngā tupuna. Mā te kōrero ka whai mana tō tātou nei reo.

kaareen

Māori are the people of this land. Te Reo Māori is the language of this land. Understanding of tikanga, of Te ao Māori is through Te Reo Māori

Heather

Preservation of Te Reo is important because we need the right words to express kaupapa Maori.

Jenifer

I love te reo Māori

Karleen

Ko wai au. It’s part of me, and my identity. It’s my responsibility to learn. I want to honour my tipuna, to korero with my whanau and empower my rangatahi.

Joanne

Kia Ora, My Journey in Te Reo started with my exposure in Waka Ama through my Rowing Club. Having the opportunity to Camp at Lake Karapiro for the nationals in 2019/2020 and then representing Tuakau college at the J19 Regionals for 2021. . . . and winning gold for the team whilst delivering as the captain, coach and lead of the Waka certainly opened my horizons in this area. What an experience it has been and this is only the beginning. . . I will continue to grow and learn in space and embrace Te Reo as much as I can in every day life. Nga Mihi Nui

Ryan

To learn more about my own culture and identity and encourage others to learn the beautiful, native language of Aotearoa

Joanne

My main focus would be to help the rangatahi with their hauora. I would like to help share our ways of getting better without the use of drugs given from the system. I plan to bring back old remedies through teachings myself, given through koha like the old ways. A cup of tea a cake or a fish 😁 Lastly I think I would like to emphasise to our younger generation how important it is to respect your elders and abide by the rules of Ihoa. This can and does help change our world. This is my passion. Kia Ora 🌝💛❤️💗✨🌞

Shannen

To keep learning is important our language is who we are

Westeria

Because my ancestors were not allowed to speak Māori.

Amelia

Arahoe Team Teina are paddling our waka under the banner of our school whakataukī 'He waka eke noa' to support the movement to normalise Te Reo in Aotearoa. We love kai and we thought it a simple and fun excuse for us to have a virtual kaitahi/shared kai, say karakia together, have some online whanaungatanga and practise Māori words and phrases. Our goal is to set an example for our tamariki, role model how Te Reo can be used anywhere, and that its fun to learn with friends and whānau. Kia Kaha Te Reo!

Lois

Arahoe Team Teina are paddling our waka under the banner of our school whakataukī 'He waka eke noa' to support the movement to normalise Te Reo in Aotearoa and help break the record for this kaupapa. We love kai and we thought it a simple and fun excuse for us to have a virtual kaitahi/shared kai, say karakia together, have some online whanaungatanga and practise Māori words and phrases. Our goal is to set an example for our tamariki, role model how Te Reo can be used anywhere, and that its fun to learn with friends and whānau. Kia Kaha Te Reo!

Lois

To help revitalise our beautiful language and culture for our tūpuna and our mokopuna. Whaea Dasha

Dasha

It is important for me to take part in this kaupapa because when I was a little girl i remember how my nan used to tell me stories of how she was beaten for talking te reo māori. So I do this because she couldn't, and because of what happened to her, all of her 10 children grew up without any reo or any cultural connectedness. Kia ora.

Malia-ana

I feel so lucky as a pakeha New Zealander to know that this land's people have such a beautiful language and culture and that we are privileged to be able to share that.

Kelly-Ann

because te reo Māori is a taonga

Annie

I'm a kiwi from a number of different migrant groups, and learning some te reo is an opportunity to understand and show respect for those who were here first. I also want to be able to do meaningful engagement with Māori groups in my work, and growing my te reo Māori capability is a good step in this direction.

Seth

To learn more about my home country I have lived in for 31 years

susie

"Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria" "My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul"

Cherrie

Te Reo Māori is a most beautiful language - I love hearing it and I'd like to hear more of it, from all of us - it's as simple as that. Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori!

Keir

Kia ora koutou Tuu ana au ki runga o Taupiri maunga Kauria i ngaa wai o Waikato Te waka tupuna ko Tainui Ko Cherrie Brougham tooku ingoa

Cherrie

Whaowhia te kete mātauranga - Fill the basket of knowledge

Julie

As a Maori Te Reo is an integral part of our Whakapapa

Sugar

I know how important the Māori language is to National identity, and I'm SO proud to be driving it in my small part, alongside the incredible people here in Southern Cross. My why is that I see this as a way to connect us all, in one moment, to be the spark that keeps the flame glowing. It's what makes us special.

Rudog

Because we want our tamariki to know that they are important, just as te reo is in early childhood

Fa'amanu

My Journey In Te Reo comes from the exposure I received whilst supporting my son's Journey through Waka Ama through his club at later at college. The first year at camp for Waka Ama, 2019 @ Lake Karapiro was a challenge for me as a parent. This followed the 2020 camp and my exposure continued into how beautiful the language is. My journey continued with my son, who was the captain, coach and leader of the Waka at this years J19 nationals and it was such a proud moments that they got "GOLD" for Tuakau College.

Renuka

It's important for the tamariki to see all kaiako as learners and to engage them in the beautiful language of Te Reo Maori.

Rachel

He tino taonga te reo, mena ka mohio au toku reo ka taea e au te ako aku tamariki.

Hokioi

I Ako Ahau Te Reo Maori Mo Te Waiata, Korero, Me te Panui.

Blaire

Na te mea, ka korero Maori ahau i nga wa katoa.

Tamara

I want to learn te reo Maori because it's my culture and so the language lives on. I think its important for me to keep learning te reo Maori because my kuia, Nanny Mere, wanted me to learn.

Teuamonehu

Na te mea, ka korero Maori ahau i nga wa katoa.

Tamara

Na te mea, ka korero Maori ahau i nga wa katoa. I ako ahau i te Reo Maori. He pai te Reo Maori

Tamara

As a primary School teacher many tamariki come without knowing their whakapapa or identity. Its important that everyone knows who they are and where they come from. I take great pride in helping tamariki discover their identity and from this basis grow, language helps us in that growth.

Mark

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New Zealand

As a primary School teacher many tamariki come without knowing their whakapapa or identity. Its important that everyone knows who they are and where they come from. I take great pride in helping tamariki discover their identity and from this basis grow, language helps us in that growth.