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'

It is important because its part of who we all are as New Zealanders.

Kim

Because maori language is one of our official languages and I think it’s important we can understand and use it and we understand our cultural history

Kim

As a pākehā who came to Aotearoa over 8 years ago I think it's very important to keep the reo of the whenua alive. Coming from a country who's language was also outlawed by colonists I feel a close connection to Māori and feel the importance of celebrating te reo Māori very strongly. Witnessing racism towards speakers of te reo has also strengthened my resolve to learn more kupu and use them as much as I can.

Earthlove

We want to further the teachers knowledge and skills and support our children to enjoy Te Reo in our preschool

Kim

It's our history and an integral part of what makes us New Zealanders.

Kim

I'm a New Zealander, which makes it important to normalise and use one of our official languages, but I'm also part Māori. I want to celebrate my culture, learn the reo, and to encourage others to speak te reo in the only country that speaks it :)

Kim

To keep the beautiful language alive. Connections to the past

Kiera

Be able to understand and speak some basic te reo

Kevin

To me it is important to learn and respect te reo Maori as it is the language of Aotearoa.

Kerry

Māori is not only my heritage but also an official language of NZ. It needs to be preserved, celebrated, and made accessible to everyone. It links me to my tīpuna and helps to guide me to my future.

Kerry

Its so important we don't loose the language. If we all make an effort then we will keep the reo safe and part of our future. After all it is our indigenous language x

Kerri

As a role model- I tutor te reo maori and offer cultural supervision to others.

Keri

It’s important for modern day New Zealand to pay compensation to the damage that colonisation has had on te Ao Maori and Te Reo. One of the best ways we can move forward is by teaching Te Reo in our schools.

Kenya

I am an immigrant to New Zealand/Aotearoa and have been here for more than 40 years. All of my family lives here in this country and I think it's important that we preserve the unique Maori language. My desire is that we will become a truly bi-lingual country.

Kenneth

it is a part of New Zealand culture and should be taught and used I used to learn te reo at high school and would like to learn again

Kelly

Keeping Te Reo alive needs to be a priority for all New Zealnaders. Be brave and give it a go!

Kelly

Love the language. Love the culture. Ka rawe.

Kelly

It is one of our official languages and I need to be using it more

Kelly

We have to preserve the language. We are the only country that speaks it and if we lose it we will never get it back.

Kellie

I would really like to learn to speak fluent Maori by the time I'm 20. I would like my younger brother to learn Maori when he's at school, so he can speak it when he's older.

Keita

If learning the language begins when children are young, those children will speak Māori and the language will be natural to them. As a child, I was not given this opportunity due to many reasons. But I won't allow my unborn child to go without the knowledge of o tātou iwi, ō tātou ahurea, ō tātou reo. In order to do so, I must ako and hold myself accountable to do so.

Keenan

Being a raukura or a graduate of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori movement I hold te reo Māori close to my heart and will continue to speak and learn

Kayne

As a proud New Zealander, I feel as though it is important for us to learn and embrace our diverse culture as a whole.

Kaylee

Ko te reo te reo oāku tīpuna - ka tau ai te māori i roto i taku wāhi mahi.

Kayla

To me being Māori I always felt whakama that I didn’t know my pepeha or know any basics. So I enrolled with the wānanga and started to take my birth right and learn more about this beautiful taonga. I don’t look Māori but feel very strongly about wanting to be fluent on day. Tihei Mauri Ora

Kayla

It's part of our school's strategic plan to become bilingual

Kaye

I don't have much te reo maori, but can pray the Lord's Prayer. It seems such a simple thing for me to do.

kay

I'm an immigrant and I feel it's very important to learn the history of colonisation, to protect te reo and to honour Te Tiriti. I was totally ignorant when I came to Aotearoa 26 years ago and now feel that we all have a responsibility to learn about this and do what I can to correct the injustices of the past.

Kay

I've recently discovered how good our maori kiwi singers, song writers are during lockdown. Simply inspirational.

Katy

I am so proud of what makes NZ unique and growing up in a predominantly Maori area, I was always so respectful and appreciative of Maori and Maori culture. I was fortunate that in our school we were taught Maori vowels, greetings, poi and games. And that was five decades ago. As a seventh generation pakeha I was late in learning that my ancestor when he came to NZ lived with Ngati Toa on the kapiti coast and had an enduring relationship with Te Raupahara. He had a Maori wife with which he had 8 or 9 children. Like so many whalers he deserted her and went on to marry an incoming english woman and sire our family line. When I discovered this I was filled with shame on behalf of my family and have been since trying to establish who is Maori wife was. Rumours have it she was one of Te rauparaha's daighters. We know Sid Jacksons family are our blood line but have much still to determine in our search. It is a long journey that I am determined to travel. As an elected local government official I continued to learn more about New Zealands Maori heritage instigating Maori culture events like Matariki and embracing Maori partnership projects with local iwi. My children all participated in Kapahaka as the 'whitest white haired' kids the Awataha Urban Marae had seen but emerging them in Maori culture was important to me and therefore they now are carrying on those same values to their own children. I am currently learning Basic Maori and finding out more about Kind Country Maori history having moved here recently. I want to lead by example and help educate Pakeha as ignorance, breeds contempt and disrespect.

Katrina

I long to learn more of my maori being. Especially as a wahine who was born in 1972. To be able to learn te reo, so I can share it with my tamariki & whanau. This will keep me & our babies, mokopuna connected to our whenua, awa moana that we are able to carry the Mauri of all our Tupuna before us. I feel this is very important for the future.

Katrina

As a kiwi teacher, it is important for me to share our NZ culture with our tamariki.

Katrina

Its apart of who i am my culture my childrens legacy i love the reo i try to teach my children as much as can. We sing maori songs all the time too my children love the songs and re involved in kapa haka also.

Katrina

…. . because together we can make the world a better place

Katja

As Pakeha person I want to honour Te Tiriti and live in partnership with tangata whenua to the best of my knowledge and ability. Using te reo is part of that.

Katie

Important for the next generation to keep our history alive. And share and experience the Maori culture.

Katie

Learning te Reo for me has been more than just about a language but about learning a way of thinking about the world!

Katie

te reo Māori is apart of Aotearoa and I'm apart of Aotearoa

Katie

Commitment to the journey . . .

Kathryn

I’m an NZ English speaker, but Te reo is the language that says “NZ” and home to me. We use te reo words at so many important moments and for the most important things in life - Kia kaha , aroha, whanau. My wish is that the reo continues to grow strong.

Katherine

We are all New Zealanders and belong to this beautiful place. We are connected not just to the Earth below us and the sky above but to the history that is imbued within. The Maori people and Te Reo language are part of our foundation and I'd like to share my pride in that by supporting the everyday use of Te Reo.

Katherine

It is important that we as New Zealanders at least TRY the first language here. I DO try to say place names etc as correctly as I can and can at least say Hi and how are you! ! ! (and reply) kanui te pai. ! ! ! !

Kath

i am maori and we need to be united as a people this is a good way to do that

Katie

To incorporate Te Reo into my daily practice working at the hospital.

Kate

Te Reo Māori is a taonga and should be treated as such by all of Aotearoa. I am a Kindergarten teacher and so it is a responsibility and passion to ensure Te Ao Māori is woven throughout my philosophy, pedagogy and way of life. Ngā mihi Nui, Kate

Kate

He iti te mokoroa, nāna i kakati te kahikatea.

Kate

I want to learn as much as possible, and help normalise speaking te reo in New Zealand everyday conversations.

Kate

Being part Māori and not knowing the reo has made me kinda sad that we don’t cherish our language. I want to start learning and speaking like our ancestors

Kate

It is important for NZ identity.

Kate

I travel alot around NZ, alot of rural places i would like to be able to speak and hold pride that i know Te Reo. To show a Aussie can do it to, its not that hard.

Kat

I feel that I should know more about NZ's second language and our heritage.

Karyn

I support te reo Māori and Māori culture in Aotearoa and want it to be part of everyday life. Te reo Māori and Māori culture are unique to Aotearoa. They are a taonga. We should look after them. They are important to us as a nation and our place in the world. I also believe language learning is valuable in itself and should be part of schooling from a young age, as a way to support diverse thinking and openness about different cultures.

Karren

I think as many people as possible in New Zealand should be trying to learn our national language. The blog post slug for this story is: karlina_-_new_plymouth

Karlina

Kia kaha tatou mo o tatou mokopuna.

Karleen

To share our Reo and Tikanga

karlas

I have always been interested in the language, spiritual beliefs and Mana of Maori. It is something I hold high in value and gives me pride in knowing.

Karl

For my mokopuna

Karene

Because Maori is one of our three national languages and I want te reo Maori to flourish in Aotearoa

Karen

Because te Reo Maori is a beautiful language and I want to get better and speaking and understanding

Karen

I'm a Kiwi.

Karen

I'm interested in learning Te Reo.

karen

As a pakeha I feel it is important to support the use of te reo Māori. If I speak it, it spreads the message of inclusion, I can be a role model, and I can be part of safeguarding a beautiful and unique part of New Zealand.

Karen

always wanted to learn Te Reo but haven't had the time.

Karen

How important being a maori and not being able to korero or understand.

Karen

Te reo Maori is part of our culture, NZers from all backgrounds should be part of this korero.

Karen

To learn to speak te reo Maori

Karen

My why ? is because it is our precious taonga and at last we seem to be making some progress as a nation in acknowledging this and doing something about it, collectively and individually. How can I not want to be part of this ( especially as I feel my tipuna breathing down my neck. . . Aue! ) ?

Karen

For the well-being of Maori, and for all students to acknowledge Te Reo as an important and enrichening part of being a New Zealander The blog post slug for this story is: karen_-_christchurch_dujklmumxw64y0gc7_agja

Karen

Teacher myself and children basic te reo

Karen

He whakanui Te reo Māori i roto I taku mahi!

Kara

I am in my third year of part-time study in Te Reo Māori

Kane

Be part of the Maori kingdom. Be part of my students' background and lives. Get to know more about maori language so that I can integrate more with my students. The blog post slug for this story is: kamala_-_auckland

Kamala

Because this is our culture and it we should express our culture.

kaiya

Ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea.

Kahurangi

Because I'm proud of my Maori heritage and want to celebrate it.

Kahurangi-Tiwai

Because it's New Zealandese. The New Zealand language. When you go to Japan (never been there) you must either learn basic Japanese, get an interpreter or talk exclusively with a few people who have learned English as a second language. But because of colonialism and imperialism, not even New Zealanders need to speak Māori on a daily basis beyond a few basic words that have diffused into New Zealand English. English will be an important language for international business for as long as New Zealand is a Western country, but within Aotearoa there should be visible signs of Māori culture and language throughout the country to the point that virtually everyone who stays here will acquire basic knowledge of te reo Māori and tikanga simply because it's all around them.

Kaan

I want to keep this beautiful language alive for as long as I am, I want my tamariki to know and learn all about it and to continue to pass it down the whānau as long as possible. I want to be able to korero confidently and have no trouble telling the customer the fish of the day is Tarakihi not “terakee”

Mark

Because as New Zealanders we should all be incorporating Te Reo Maori in to our everyday

Justine

Playcentre is a bicultural organisation. We honour the special place of the reo and tikanga of tangata whēnua. We are all enriched in our lives by gaining knowledge of this taonga and we pass on our engagement to our tamariki.

Justine

He pakeha tuturu ahau engari ko aku uri he Maori. Ka mihi atu ahau ki nga tangata whenua o Aotearoa nei. A te mutunga he tino whanaunga a tatou katoa-ahakoa ko wai! Tu Tangata! :)

Justin

Because I come from Wales where our culture and language have been under threat for 800+ years. Wales is also aiming for 1 million speakers. Kia kaha Aotearoa.

June

To encourage me to continue using Māori greetings both verbally and written then, going forward, start learning more phrases to use.

Julie

To keep Te Reo going and to instil all values of Maori in our country

Julie

I want to support the idea of te reo Maori as our second language, supporting Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our Treaty partners.

Julie

Because it's important for my family, especially since my boys are not in the public school system where they were speaking and listening to te reo more than at home, to understand that even though they are not Maori, they are New Zealanders and part of their world. I am American and my husband a pakeha and we don't speak at home. I also want to discuss how important language is to identity and the history of language being suppressed.

Julie

I love Aotearoa for its rich culture. Maori is that culture and I want to learn more and embrace it.

Julie

Acknowledgment of the great culture and beginnings of this great country.

Julie

I want to learn more about te reo Maori language and culture

Julie

My own Ancient Gaellic language is dying out and its very important to keep connected with the knowledge and wisdom of our Whanau.

Julian

Te ao Māori is vital for the regeneration of Aotearoa

Juhi

I have always been interested in languages, but Te Reo was never taught at my school in the late 1950s!

Judy

Im 74 years old! Never to old to learn.

Judy

We are so lucky to have a beautiful language and my journey to being fluent has been a process and any opportunity to increase my knowledge of te reo maori I want to embrace.

Judy

Kia ora, Talofa lava, I am Samoan, and I speak, write and read in my own reo. In addition, my children are also Tongan and I speak, write and read in Tongan reo as well. My mokopuna are of Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island Maori, Italian, Irish and Pakeha ethnicities, and the reo is a crucial part of who they are here in Aotearoa NZ, in the Pacific, and wherever they go and live. I support te reo Maori as it is our indigenous and one of our official reo in Aotearoa NZ and te reo Maori enriches our lives and who we are as a people here and in the Pacific region. Being bilingual is a great advantage in academic success and a blessing. Our reo are gifts we pass on to our future generations and it is their right to have access to their reo, and our responsibility collectively to ensure our reo survives and continues to bless all who engage with it. Fa'afetai tele Ia manuia le vaiaso o le gagana Maori. Nga mihi nui Judy

Judy

I want to support the survival of the Maori language and its use in NZ.

Judith

Te reo is part of this country and its people, and is a beautiful language that I want to be able to use more confidently and with pride.

Jude

I'm not fluent in Te Reo Maori, I have some understanding. I stand with everyone to celebrate being Maori and speaking our Reo.

Joyce

Just to support the Maori who were the first people to discover Aotearoa and help raise the awareness, rather than always purely focusing on living our busy daily lives.

Joy

Te reo is a path to connecting deeper with all things te ao Maori and tikanga Maori

Josh

Maori is a beautiful culture and language and I would love to see it more integrated into daily life in New Zealand

joseph