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's important for me to take part because celebrating our native culture is an important step into bringing everyone closer together

Joseph

Kia mōhio mai te Kāwanatanga me te ao whānui me ngā tāngata o Aotearoa he mea nui, whakaharahara to reo Māori, arā, he tokomaha ngā tāngata e tautoko ana i te reo Māori, ā, kāore hoki e hiahia ana kia mate noa te reo.

Joseph

To promote and encourage our kaiako to korero Maori by giving them the skills and resources to use

Jordan

I want to see te reo māori be strong and celebrated in Aotearoa. I have a dream to one day be a proficient speaker of te reo māori.

Jordan

It's to help make up for the lack of spoken Māori in the household growing up even though two in the household were fluent speakers. Also to help make up for my lack of enthusiasm for the subject while studying Māori at college. It is also to reaffirm my current want/need to learn and speak it now in my current life.

Jay

I want to be a part of this event

Jordan.

I believe in bi-culturalism in Aotearoa

Jon

because te reo Māori is important

Jojo

It just makes sense, living in Aotearoa

John

To be an example of what a "New Zealander" (non Maori) should be.

John

Increase knowledge of Te Reo to improve understanding and eventually speak the language

John

To develop a more connected and understanding community and celebrate te reo Maori.

john

Growing the use of te reo is a crucial part of protecting Māori culture and indigenous rights. You can't truly understand a culture without getting to know some of its language

Joe

to learn, and share in the culture

Jodie

to regain part of my heritage

Jodene

New to New Zealand and important for me to understand our local context for research and research translation especially in relation to workplace health and safety.

Joanne

We live with and alongside Maori in a multicultural society. We need to continue growing awareness of Te reo Maori and celebrate it where we can.

Joanne

I wish to improve my pronunciation of te reo and cultural competence in my work

Joanne

He tino kaupapa tenei

Joanne

Kura Kaupapa Maori or Kohanga wasn't around when I was younger nice to see our moko continuing our language.

Joanne

I just want to learn te reo for me.

Joan

Ko Jo Corlett ahau Toi Kaiako Te aho O Te Kura Pounamu I am a passionate art educator and would like to continue to promote the widespread use of Te Reo as part of our national identity of Aotearoa. I encourage akonga to learn about their whakapapa and cultural significance through creating art works of Toi Maori

Kristin

Because I am a New Zealander, I would like to be confident using basic terms.

Jo

to often beautiful things are lost in the crowded world. i would like to hear this language for ever, for everyone to have the opportunity to learn and pass it on with the wonderful stories from the ancestors .

jo

For my own personal growth and because my moko is learning Te Reo Maori at her kura and I'd like to be able to have conversations with her.

Jo

kia rongo, kia kite, kia mau āku tauira ki ngā ahuatanga tini o te ao Māori

Jo

It's a national language for good reason. In a small way learning and using te reo helps the decolonisation process, helps bring tge people together more, in fairness, as we were meant to be.

Jo

Learning Health and Well-being

Jo

Ko Ngāti Pākehā te iwi. He kaiako ahau. He tauira o te Reo Māori hoki. Tēnā tātou katoa. As a tertiary teacher I am really pleased to be finally beginning my studies of Te Reo this year. The other day I gave a partial version of my pepeha during a session in which we all introduce ourselves and was really happy when a Māori student said that she hadn't intended to use her own pepepa but she appreciated mine and did give her own (as did another Māori student in the group). I am so pleased that my small effort made it more comfortable for these students to share this important part of their identity (and me my own as well).

Jim

Im a Canadian married to a Maori, Its important that I have some kupu and respect the indigenous peoples, my whanau and my tamariki.

JIll

Important that all New zealanders learn Te Reo

Jill

because Maori were here before white people so it is important for me to have that respect as the Maori were neglected for many years and still are.

jethro

Because Te reo maori is a very important culture to me and I want to learn more about it.

Jessyka
Jessica

For my ancestors and future generation

Jessie

I think that it is important because this is our history and it is important that we know about this.

Jessica

māori is one of my biggest passions. i love learning it, speaking it and being apart of the culture. I want to involve myself as much as possible

Jessica

I am from Australia. My choice to move to Aotearoa means embracing and learning the culture, laungauge and traditions of the nations first people. This is Maori land. To not try would be reapating history as a European/pakeha woman. Unwillingness to learn, is not the vibe. We can only move forward if we are willing to learn and embrace with open eyes and hearts.

Jessica

To keep my whakapapa and my culture alive. To learn the reo better to reconect with my matua my hapu and my whenua.

Jessica

I have no Maori blood in me but i feel connected to the beautiful culture of our country. There is so much to be celebrated in Te Reo, our beautiful Aotearoa and our culture. I want to learn and grow and immerse my children in our beautiful roots.

Jessica

Te Reo is one of the official languages in New Zealand. It should be actively encouraged, not just during Maori language week to learn and appreciate Te Reo, regardless of your background or nationality.

Jess

It's important to teach my kids what we can do to encourage NZ to become the truly bicultural nation it is supposed to be

Jess

It’s a great time to be a live to witness the uprising of our Te Reo and what that bring to Maori tikaga

Jerad

This is our heritage, our culture

Jenny

My why is about respect, feeling connected and enjoyment. Te reo Maori is a beautiful language and in learning te reo we gain so much more than a language. I wish to one day to be able to use te reo Maori as naturally as I do English, so it is incorporated into my life in every way possible.

Jenny

Why; its part of my and our identity as New Zealanders

Jenny

My children and extended whanau are Maori. Also, I work part time at our local marae. I want to be able to understand more when whanau there speak Te Reo to me. They do it unflinchingly and I'm trying hard to get the gist, but don't always succeed!

Jenny

My children have maori heritage and I don't want them to lose that. I want them to know more and learn about their culture. By me learning Te Reo Maori it will help my children.

Jenny

I have been in NZ over 20 years. I pick up odd words of reo, I always use KiaOra or Morena, but I would like to learn to use more every day.

Jenny

Because why not?

Jennifer

NZ is my second home. I just LOVE it! ! I have such a spiritual connection with this beautiful country! !

Jenna

Because it is one of only two unique languages we have here and i believe it is important to embrace our heritage and ensure it is carried through to the next millennia and beyond.

Jenna

To learn and emphase the culture

Jenna-lee

Because Te reo is awesome and a vital part of respect, love of and for Māoridom <3

Jenn

To be able to learn the language of our country and feel confident using/speaking a few words.

Jenn

Because Te Reo is an official language in NZ. Everyone should speak it or at least at a basic level.

Jen

For my son to learn about something that is unique to New Zealand and is open to learning other languages and cultures

Jen

to encourage others to learn

Jen

To help show recognition that te reo belongs in our everyday use and educate myself along the way

Jemma

I feel strongly about weaving Te Reo into education, the workplace and within your whanau.

Jemma

R10's reasons: Te Reo is a significant and unique language in NZ because it was the original language spoken in our country. Maori is our history and it is important as New Zealanders to keep up with, and learn about the traditions our ancestors have created, so that these are not lost. It is important to acknowledge this culture as it has a strong connection to our land in Aotearoa. As the team of 5 million it is our responsibility to keep this language and rich culture alive and encourage our whanau to use this language so that our future generations can inherit the aroha of te reo.

Jemma

I am a New Zealander and I believe that all New Zealanders should be able to speak Te Reo

Jeannette

I'm in education and normalising te reo Māori is important for our tamariki.

Jean

I'm a proud New Zealander.

Jayne

KIA ORA AI TE REO MAORI, KIA TAUTOKO TE KAUPAPA O TE REO MAORI. .

Kristin

To respect and nurture the Maori Culture and Language.

Bijay

Te Reo is a beautiful language and something so unique to NZ, its part of who I am, where I come from and who I will always be.

Jason

Personally te reo is the backbone ki te ao Maori. I hope to speak the language of our tipuna and speak our native tongue with my family.

Jason

Its important for everyone to understand the history of their country and indigenous people.

Jason

It is the reo of the whenua.

Jason

we doing it at work

Jasmine

So my baby and I can feel more confident and connected to who we are. To ignite the fire within for the next generation as well as myself.

Jasmine

We believe in the revitalisation of our reo Maori - we know that we play a part as individuals and as a community organisation. We are committed to the journey of learning, growing and encouraging. Kia kaha te reo Maori.

Jasmine

It is important to be one in a million because Te Reo Maori belongs to our indigenous people and the more that participate, the more understanding people will have of this culture then we can break down barriers and get along with each other so racism can be abolished. Let's normalise this unique language and make it a daily interaction.

Jasmine

Te Reo Maori language is such a key to our culture, it is important that as New Zealanders we all understand it and celebrate it

Jarrod

To make it ok to speck te reo maori.

Janine

Te reo Maori is part of what makes me proud to be a kiwi

Janine

As a former kaiwhakaako (high school teacher of Maori and other languages) I see the pride young Maori develop as they reclaim their dignity by acquiring and using the language of their tipuna. Also I have taught te reo to Pakeha adults who are then able to respect people and places by pronouncing their names more correctly.

Janet

I wish to improve my understanding of the language and interact more with Te Reo. I am loving learning about my husbands Whakapapa - but know my understanding of the sounds and vowels etc are lacking.

Janet

I'm recapturing an important part of my heritage. Te reo wasn't available when I was at school so I'm taking the opportunity now and learning with my work colleagues.

Jane

Want to be included and inclusive with all our cultures. Have a good grasp of Pakeha, but just a pinch of Māori. I want to learn The Rep, but it's more difficult than I thought, especially alone.

Jane

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori. I am taking part as a way for me to connect to my whakapapa but also to encourage all who live on this whenua to embrace te reo.

Jane

I'd love Aotearoa New Zealand to be truely bilingual for everyone one day. Everything we can do to normalise Te Reo Māori in our mahi, the sooner the change will happen.

Jan

I am committed to being part of a bicultural Aotearoa and being able to participate in a bilingual way is an essential part of that.

Jan

Language shapes worldview and culture - Reo Maori should be shaping our worldview as New Zealanders, there is much we can learn.

Jamie

Te Reo is a unique part of our national story, our past, our present and one way or another our future. I happily support the revitalisation of the language as best I can.

James

I want my kids to know that the language is important

James

To be able to speak in our reo and teach my tamariki our culture. My son is only speaking the basics as for my girls they korero in both maori and english.

Jaleesa

I live in New Zealand and want to support the "life" of te reo.

Jaki

It’s important to me because my father never got to know or learn about the Māori side of his family. Even though he is gone, I want to learn the language and culture because it is part of my heritage. And I want to pass it on to my kids so they could one day pass it on to theirs.

Jaime

it’s who we are, we are our reo, our culture.

Jael

To learn more about the indigenous culture of NZ, to revitalize a language that was unjustly taken away from Maori.

Jadene

For me to be able to bring the languag into my workplace and inspire the children

Jade

It's the language of our indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, and it's a beautiful language! <3

Jade

Its important for myself and my whanau to learn our REO properly and understanding of tikanga. My daughter is maori\tongan I want her to acknowledge both her cultures.

Jade Marihia

Celebrate being maori, reclaim our language for future generations. . .

Jacqui

I am fairly new to this country, and want to learn about and participate in my new home.

Jacqui

Kia ora, I would love to learn to speak te reo Maori fluently. It helps me in acknowledging tangata whenua and honouring them and being/feeling more at one with my friends leading to mutual understanding. I have invited others to join me at 12 00 today. There will be about 14 of us in two groups, (following Covid-19 guidelines). Kia kaha, Jacqui Miles

Jacqui

Honour my ancestors.

Jacob

Te Reo is our nations language and we as a organisation look to honour and respect tangata whenua and Te Tiriti

Jacob