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'

Māori is apart of my culture and it’s important to me, I would love to learn more

Rachel

To be respectful, to learn, to inquire, to observe and to hopefully, one day, know more!

Rachael

It is important because it is one of the languages of Aotearoa and should be spoken in everyday life as greetings or simple sentences by everyone. It should also be mandatory in schools along with whakapapa and tikanga

Phillipa

Te reo is important to our identity as New Zealanders

Peter

To keep our reo alive and spread our culture to those that maybe unaware of our whakapapa or their own connections. A great time to stay connected within our tikanga, values and beliefs and keeping our rituals alive. Keeping our language sustainable.

Paige

I am a Kaiako and a proud young maori Māmā. Dedicated to our Reo and helping others around me

Nora

It would be a great sadness to allow for Maori language to be forgotten, as its part of New Zealand's heritage and identity. My why is to set an example for my children. Encourage them to learn and take interest and preserve Maori culture for future generations.

Leonora

I am on my personal journey learning Te reo Maori for my family and I

Niki

Its about normalising the use of our language and making it fun for those who have limited experience with it. If we do this now then generations to come will be more knowledgeable and able to use it with the mana it deserves.

niki

I just want to learn Te Reo Maori! ! ! I have lived in NZ for 23 years and am still not confident to speak Maori without people looking at me like I shouldn't :(

Nicole

It's part of my own whakapapa

Nicolaas

I have just moved home to Aotearoa. I want to know more about my country and share this with friends and family. I am going back into teaching and want to connect more with my students.

Nicola

Inspire and motivate others who have had a bad experience learning previously. We can still give it a go, push the negativity to the side and lets stand up for ours

Nellie

As a New Zealander it is important to value te reo Māori as a toanga. I am a strong advocate for te reo to be mandatory in schools for all to learn.

Naomi

to acknowledge and support our New Zealand history and understand a new culture

Nalini

To honour my tupuna, especially my kuia, she was subjected to racism because she was Maori. Honour the Treaty by respecting tino rangatiratanga

Monique

To continue to learn, share and revitalise our taonga.

Monique

Kia kaha Te reo Maori

Moera

Maori people and their language touched my life. I was a Hawaiian who didn’t see value in her own culture until she was immersed in Maori culture and reo. I love my whanaunga down there. In my heart, I never left.

Mikilani

Because Te Reo Maori is a fun thing to learn. It is NZ's other language and I think it is important

Mikaela

I want to learn Māori because I think the Māori culture is very unique and that learning the language is a part of learning they’re culture

Mika

It is important to me to learn my native language.

Mihi

Its important as a Kiwi to respect the Maori culture by learning Te Reo

Melissa
Melissa

Because as a family for overseas we also believe that roots are important and showing respect and appreciation for your culture it’s the base of our learnings as a family , we are proud for having the chance to learn more about Maori culture .

Maria

I have retired recently and now have more time on my hands to learn. I previously worked for a Maori organisation, having the reo would have been beneficial to my work. Would like to do for my own self development. I would like to be able to participate in conversations in maori.

Margaret

Our Maaori language is unique specifically to Aotearoa

Maia

To have a better understanding of the language and culture. It's such an important part of our NZ identity and everyone should be taking the opportunity to learn the beautiful culture and history.

Lynda

My why is my two children and my partner (soon to be husband). When I found out I was hapu with our first son, I vowed to try my best to learn to speak Te reo. I wanted to know his language so I could encourage him as he grew to speak both Maori and English and I wanted to understand the korero that was being had around me by my partners whanau.

Lynda-May

I love Maori language. It's a beautiful part of NZ culture which is totally underused. I love Maori stories and culture. It's wonderful. I want it to become more integrated into my life even though I'm a pakeha.

Lydia

It's important as new zealanders to learn about New Zealand culture and heritage. Language is core to that.

Luxmanan

Maori is part of the world's language diversity and part of the human heritage of all of us. Maori is also an interesting specific case of minority language - the politics of minority languages is important in Switzerland where I live, teach and research, and Maori can be a stimulating comparative example in this respect.

Lorenza

Being a kiwi

Lois

“Because it’s fun” says my eight-year-old tamahine :) And I say also because it’s just, right, beautiful, enlightening and powerful to kōrero in the first language of our whenua.

Liz

learning te reo Māori is important to me because it is the reo of my tupuna and our whenua Aotearoa/NZ. it is great for all to learn the language of our whenua, which is unique to us in the world.

Liz

Tangata whenua

Leslie

I want to learn more about Maori people and improve my Maori language.

Donnalena

Whoops I meant to sign up earlier.

Leishia

Because Te Reo Maori is not spoken anywhere else in the world

Leilani

As a Maori wahine I think it is very important , it's apart of who I am. I want to teach my children there heritage and language aswell

Leah

Te Reo Maori is an official language of NZ, it's our culture and history. It's one of the Principles of the NZ curriculum, we should honour and celebrate it.

Laura

I have three tamariki under 3. I wasn’t brought up learning much of te ao māori but was always eager to learn. Now my tamariki are enrolled in one of our local kōhanga reo and it’s not only giving them the opportunity to learn & speak but our whole whānau. Mainly, my children are my why.

Kwin

It is a language that belongs in New Zealand and I would never what to see it die out.

Kirsty

We can each contribute in some small way to effect great change.

Kierin

Ko te Reo ake o Aotearoa nei he reo o te tangata whenua. He kaupapa nui, he kaupapa rangatira, he kaupapa tuturu hoki. Arohatia tonutia te reo Maori ❤️ The blog post slug for this story is: kenneth_-_waimarino

Kenneth

I would like to move to New Zealand and become part of the community. To do that I need to learn more about the heritage and people that live there. This seems like one good way to start the journey.

Kelsey

So I can help my grandchildren

Kaylene

Kia whiua ki te ao, ki nga iwi katoa

Kauri

I think it's an important part of being a New Zealand that we have a good grasp of Te Reo and that I feel confident to teach it in a classroom and ECE centre

kathy

I am a wahine Māori, who grew up without knowing how to speak Te Reo Māori. I decided last year to make a committment to learn at te Awanuiarangi, Whakatane in the Te Pōkaitahi Reo program. Level 1-6. I left my hometown of Taumarunui and moved into a home in Ruatoki, Whakatane. I have since become involved with eight whanau helping each other grow our maara kai. I am devoted to this journey, I am 60 years old and am very happy in my time of life right now because of my decision.

Katarina

To strengthen and normalise the reo spoken at my kura

Kathryn

Learning Te Reo deserves the recognition and respect to ensure it becomes the norm in my son and mokopuna lives.

Karmin

We want to celebrate our Bicultural partnership and heritage

Jude

Because my school is doing ut and I wouod like to contribute to the schools moments!

Josie

Because te reo Māori is the way we can create equality and what makes us unique as Kiwis.

Jimmi

Learning about history and culture is important. Respecting others is key

Jessie

Recognising our taonga that is te reo Māori. Seeing it as a unique piece of our culture within an increasing globalised and connected world. I love the beauty of the language and the way it makes me feel when I speak it.

Jeremy

I want to be able to speak fluent Te Reo so I can connect to my culture

Kristin

To make te reo Māori commonplace and make Aotearoa a truly bilingual country.

Ielyaas

I am proud to be Māori and believe that our language is beautiful. It is one of the constants that has survived the test of time, and I see it as a portal to connect on a deeper level with my tūpuna/whakapapa. I also see our reo as the way of the future, alongside many of our practices. I hope to raise my children in a reo speaking whare so that they know exactly who they are and where they come from.

Ngahuia

Tena Koutou. It’s a beautiful language, and such an important part of the social and cultural fabric of Aotearoa. I am a Canadian living here for some time, but I have just recently felt that maybe this is now my forever home. Speaking and understanding Te Reo Maori would tether me more strongly to this beautiful and unique land. Kia Ora.

Holly

I am Maori, and sharing my reo has always been paramount. Hearing Te reo Maori being spoken is a normal thing for me. Being the only Maori speaking member of staff, It is comforting for me to be surrounded by our reo. I think it is important to take part because I want our Reo to be normal, be part of the culture of our Kura and for tamariki to know about their turangawaewae, to have some solid understanding of Reo Maori and Tikanga Maori as they venture forth on their Huarahi Matuaranga.

Henry

To revitalise the indegenous language of New Zealand. I myself am from scotland and unfortunately our native tongue has dimished. What Aotearoa has is special in the passion likeminded people have for the culture and the way that the culture is part of the identity of nz.

Helena

My Dad & Mum always encouraged me to learn more about our Maori culture, food, land and whakapapa. My parents grew up in a generation (like many before them) where they were forbidden to speak Te Reo Maori at school. In their 50's & 60's they went back to school to learn Te Reo proving it is never too late! Today my parents inspire me to learn and as a new Mama, I want to teach my Pepi our next generation the beautiful Taonga that is Te Reo Maori.

Helen

because Te Reo is our national language and I know very little Te Reo.

Helen

it is a huge part of the country I live in

helen

I have recently been blessed with a great-grandson. His dad is Shane Young UFC fighter en route to Abu Dhabi with Israel Adasanya. Shane is of Ngati Kahungunu descent and finding his journey into his past and people. Hence I would like to honour him and my moko by becoming familiar with their language!

Heather

To reconnect with my tūpuna and to be a better future health care professional for my Māori patients - so we can have better rapport and I am able to better earn their trust so I can help provide better health outcomes for them and reduce inequities they face.

Hannah

Na aku Tipuna i takoha mai tenei taonga ki wau, na reira kia tika ana kia tukuna atu awau ki oku uri whakatipu hei taonga mapihi maurea ma ratou, ara ma tatou katoa.

Gary

I'm a hungarian woman and I'd like to move to New Zealand. I read a lot about the maori culture and it's important for me that I speak this beautiful language well. (I started to learn on Drop app. )

Gabriella

To help make New Zealand a more equitable society, so that everyone can have the opportunity to thrive.

Florence

The language is beautiful and understanding each kupu enables a better understanding of living in Aotearoa

Fiona

Because I believe Māori should be taught as a second language to everyone in school (made compulsory to learn).

Ethan

It was beautiful to share the waiata with our choir in a way that help to promote Te Reo.

Erin

It's very important to be connected with our local communities and culture. We should strive to learn and understand each other so that Aoteroa and its people can live harmoniously and prosper. Kotahitanga "Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati, ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati"

Eric

Any language is a treasure. . . language carries with it a history, culture and world-view which cannot ever be understood without it. Te reo Māori is *our* treasure, *our* history, and I choose to do what I can to help keep it alive. It's difficult to learn a language as an adult, but by learning now, I can make it easy for my children, and their children, and so on forever.

Emma

I'm a new zealander

Emma

I am a Pakeha, but I would like to learn Maori as it is an important part of Aotearoa's culture, history and future. I would like to one day be fluent and teach my future children.

Emma

Decolonisation is critical for healing. Language is crucial for the preservation and growth of culture.

Emily
Ella

Because it’s a shame and shameful not to take part ❤️

Elin

I am originally from Ireland and have lived in Aotearoa for 16 years, I love the Te Reo Maori language and have been learning it for a year now

Elaine

Kia ora whānau! ! ! My father was born and raised in Awarua in the far north and he was taught and grew up speaking te reo Māori. My father did not pass te reo Māori down to me & my siblings. Growing up in Kirikiriroa I went to primary and intermediate schools where I was a minority and few Māori attended. I was significantly disconnected from my culture & only started to learn about my culture when I attended Church College in which a signifiant majority of tauira were Māori. I started a more focused te reo Māori journey in 2017 through completing te reo Māori and tikanga courses through Te Wananga o Aotearoa, attending kura reo wananga's and personal ongoing study and learning. I recently completed my Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Waikato in June 2023 and am an aspiring Māori criminal lawyer. I hope to advocate for better and fairer representation for Māori in our justice system. I believe it is vital for me as a Māori & advocate for Māori to develop a competent understanding of tikanga & work towards becoming a fluent speaker in te reo Māori. I am currently pursuing further study in tikanga & te reo Māori which is a life long goal for me. Learning te reo Māori is a beautiful journey for me & is helping me to better connect with my iwi, whānau & cultural identity. I love the whakataukī Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka mārama. Seek and discover. Discover and know. Know and become enlightened. Ngā mihi nui Emmeline Sunnex

Emmeline

I understand and can korero some but need more interaction with fluent speakers of Te reo Maori.

Eddie

Being maori is a privilege, and not knowing how to speak te reo maori breaks my heart, its important to me to learn te reo maori as im sure it will complete me in my te ao maori

Donnell

I love so much about our indigenous culture and wairua and am enriched by everything I learn about it.

Dianne

I live in Melbourne, Australia and I have Kiwi/Maori students at my school. It is important that they continue to grow with the language.

Di

Because of my whãnau, I want them to be more culturally immersed

Desire'

I would like to be able to learn te reo maori, so that I can pass it on to my grown up children, who were all born here in Australia, hoping that they will pass it on to their children.

Derek

Acknowledge our whakapapa Role model for our mokopuna

Our beautiful bi-cultural nation of Aotearoa needs to embrace and support the growth and development of Te Reo Māori. With my educational background, this is a vital component to share for our tamariki and the next leaders of New Zealand. I am looking forward to developing my own kete of language to strengthen my capabilities and enhance my cultural capacity.

Dana

I want Te Reo to be organic and typical in all kiwi lifestyles

Crystal

To spread the awareness of te reo as a means to know your identify

Crawford

It's part of New Zealand's culture and its important we embrace that and honour it

Clare

I live in this country and it would be a shame (on me) if I could not even speak a few words of Maori and understood the history of this country. My grandchildren are already learning Maori at school and I am proud that they will grow up being able to converse and understand Maori.

Christopher

Language is the root of every culture. SO glad to see this effort, and wish we in Hawai`i would do the same. One of our language schools has its roots in Te Reo - and is called Ke Ala Leo. I've lived here in Hawai`i all my life, love visiting Aotearoa, and would love to honor Aotearoa and my Maori friends by being able to converse in the original language.

Christin "Chris"

Our unique indigenous language should be an integral part of being a kiwi. I hope the day comes soon that Māori is taught as a dual language in all kura and Aotearoa embraces our ataahua reo as second nature.

Cheryl

I'm a beginner learner and loved studying Te Ara Reo Māori last year and wanted to continue to improve my reo

Kristin

Because I live in Aotearoa

Charlotte

Because Aotearoa is the only country that acts as the repository for te reo Maori. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure the revitalisation and utilisation of this beautiful language.

Caterina