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'

Mōku: Ko tōku reo taku ohooho, ko tōku reo taku māpihi maurea. Ka whangai tō tātou reo Māori ki Ngā tamariki mokopuna.

Waveney

Kiaora lm 63 year's old today lve never learnt how to speak Maori lve always been at the back working on the marae kaimahi kerepoka. lm ashamed of myself that I can't stand up to korero Maori to the matua speaker on the taumata ld do anything to answer there korero back in Maori. .

Wallace

He hiranga nui tō te reo Māori hei oranga mō tātou e noho mai ana ki te whenua o Aotearoa.

Waimarie

Every little counts! And our little translates into a ripple, so it gets bigger! Little people can do big things!

Waiheke

Very important to connect with whanau and all Maori

Vivienne

Keep Te Reo Alive Kia Kaha

Viv

Because we support Te Reo in our school we have 2 Level 2 classes and 6 Level 4 classes.

Viv

I acknowledge Te Reo Māori as one of the languages of this nation and, first and foremost, as the language of the partner with the Crown in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Virginia

As a NZ European teacher, by me embracing the language and incorporating it into my everyday practice, I am hoping to empower my learners in a multiple of ways. I empower my students who can speak te reo Māori to have pride in their skills as they help me in my learning. I make the language 'normal', just like English in my room to help build familiarity. I recognise the heritage of this country that I love and the taonga that I can be part of preserving.

Virginia

Ki taku nei whakaaro, he mea nui te reo o nga tangata. Ka whakamana ia iwi, hapu, a, whanau hoki ki te panuitia ia ratou mita. He waha kotahi noa iho ahau, engari Kia ora, Kia kaha te reo Maori!

Vilma

To teach children Te Reo

Vignette

I come from a multicultural background where people liked to share their languages with one another so I am keen to learn.

Vida

It is time got me to learn this will be my life ending journey I am 60 years old and I fomt know my own te reo.

Victoria

Because I want my tamariki to understand and love our language to be proud of who we are as New Zealanders

Victoria

I'm on my journey with te reo, started along time ago, but changed along the way , knowing back and ready to complete my journey. I wish now I. had carried on, buy I'm ready to. do all this now.

Victoria

I learned for a year in 2012 and loved it then the university in Canterbury stopped evening classes and I couldn't find another I love the language it increased my confidence and sense of belonging

Victoria

Te Reo is a growing movement and I want to be a part of it as a New Zealander.

Vicki

all kiwis should embrace te reo and respect maori culture tikanga, whether pakeha, maori or from other cultures.

Vicki

Because Maori is who I am, who I identify with, who my people are

Vicki Lee

I want to start learning the language as a New Zealander we all need to embrace Te Reo one word at a time.

Vicki

For my moko to learn more of their heritage and to be apart of making that happen for them

Vicki

I learn Maori up too 100 level at University. I feel it should be compulsory in schools right from the start.

Vicki

Because we want to play our part in honouring tangata whenua, and we love the poetry of Te Reo.

Verena and Mike

a second language is another world view. its another perspective. it allows me to go deeper into who I am and who my whanau are. the broader your mind is the better you can make your part of the world.

Venus

Nā te mea ko tāku reo tuatahi tēnei.

Vaughan

Te celebrate the indigenous culture of NZ and that which my children are born into

Vanessa

I myself have a child who is of Maori descend therefore I know the importance of keeping her culture alive and celebrating it with her. I want to encourage this in my workplace to ensure I am acknowledging Maori culture as a significant part of who we are and where we are from whether we are Maori or Pakeha.

Vanessa

To keep the reo alive!

Vanessa

Retain the language

Valeti

to educate our generation but also the next, to revive our reo

Valerie

To always give back to the community and to give respect

Valerie

Ko te reo Māori te reo tuatahi o te whenua nei.

Valerie

Aotearoa is my home. and it is important to me to be part of our indigenous and unique heritage. That heritage includes Te Reo Maori and I would like to honour it's mana with my participation.

Vaimoana

important to learn the language of the land we live on

Vahe'a

Our Community has a distinct identity within SOuthland. We need to stand up for who we represent and celebrate the return of Te Reno.

Vicky

I believe taking pride in our language is fundamental in building cultural self esteem. Confidence in our place and our relevance in NZ today. Sharing and celebrating who we are.

Liv

Honouring the spirit of te tiriti.

Ursula

I have just turned 70, now I think it’s time to learn more of my Te Reo

Una

It is important for people to learn, speak and participate in the language of our tupuna. As we teach Māori Tourism here in campus it’s also a great way to utilise the languag

Tyson

It's my taonga tuku iho!

Tyra

Mā tātou katoa e whakarauora i te reo Māori hei whitiki te motu whānui. Heoi, ki te kore tātou e tuku atu i ēnei momo wā ki te marea tē tāea e rātou te whakangungu te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori. Koirā te take e whakamana nei tā mātou kura i tēnei wā reo Māori, otirā i tēnei wiki o te reo Māori.

Tuwharetoa

I am maori retired at my age i like to speak te reo nga marai tikanga just to learn the basics and advance my reo

Tuki

To be part of promoting the use of our native language! It’s our Taonga 😍 Will do giveaways and a Sale this weekend - www. taonga. co. nz

Tui-kay

I would rather be the 1 in a million then 0.

Tui

Taku kainga ki te Aotearoa. Ki te reo kainga o Aotearoa. Ki te reo taonganui o Aotearoa.

Adele

I believe it is important for our Maori students and indeed all New Zealanders to encourage the Maori language to be taught and heard.

trudy

As a New Zealanders, I think it is important for us to know and understand Reo. Not just the language but also the history.

Trish

I have been learning Te Reo on and off for 50 years so if I don't make this honest commitment now I never will

Tricia

As a teacher, I just want all my students to know how important their identity and culture is. And that Aotearoa has a beautiful native language unique to us that we can all share in and enrich lives with. And for my gorgeous Māori students to always stand tall and hold their mana strong.

Trena

Maori language is an important part of not only our history but today. More New Zealanders should be educating themselves in the language. It should be a greater part of our everyday lives.

Tracy

Because language is important

Tracy

I Love our language. My mokos can korero maori and I'm learning so we can korero together

Tracey

I think the future will be bilingual more than now in Aotearoa. I don’t want my future children to be like me and have no idea what their friends are saying or singing half the time. I want to do it for myself as I do not want Te reo to die. It’s our history, it’s this lands real language. I want to be part of the movement for change!

Tracey-Leigh

To continue to learn more about te reo Maori and to grow in confidence using it.

Tracey

Te reo needs to be used regularly by all NZers

Tracey

Just to be part of a generation who are so proud of their reo and who they are. . My parents are from the era where they were scolded at kura for speaking te reo. Hence why I cant korero as well as my kids and Moko can, it wasn't around me.

Tottie Dal

To keep the reo alive

Totara North School

I love te reo Māori but struggle to have the confidence to try. This seems like a great opportunity to start.

Torri

My Background My Culture

Torrence

To teach my tamariki that te Reo is a taonga that we should learn, use and cherish.

Tori

Maori language is a taonga that needs to be learnt or we will lose it. It is special to New Zealanders.

Tony

For my tamariki future and my mokos

Toni-Marie

It's important because I hope to encourage more of our people to reconnect with and celebrate our culture and Reo Rangatira. Kāua e whakamā, e te whanau! Kia kaha ki te kōrero Māori!

Toni Bailey

My why is to be able to give my son the knowledge of having Te Reo spoken in the home. It’s to be able to gain confidence in knowing my native language, to become confident, to be able to Pass that on to him as he grows.

Toni

Te Tiriti o Waitangi Effort Compassion I live in Aotearoa The language needs us

Tom

I think as a country where the culture is rich, the language and tikanga is taonga and must continue to stay strong.

Tinae

Because I am proud to be born here in this beautiful country, Aotearoa, with this long beautiful history and culture. I need to get into gear and finally embrace this beautiful language - te reo Maori! .

Tina

Our indigenous language belongs to us, it is of this land. It is our right and our responsibility as a school to teach it and to pass it on to our future generations. Our language is a gateway to our culture, our practices, our history.

Tina

Because Māori is an official language of this country.

Tina

Tena Koutou, Ko Tim ahau, No Awheria ki te tonga ahua I have recently immigrated here and wish to understand the people and culture of Aotearoa Ma te wa

Tim

As one of our two National Languages, Maori awareness is an important part of our culture. This is important for all Maori, Pakeha and any other individuals in Aotearoa, because it helps us to celebrate diversity.

Tim

I would like to see wider integration of matauranga Maaori ( including te reo) in our society.

Tim

Te Reo is a toanga and unique to us in Aotearoa. We need to use it as much as possible.

Tim

Te Reo is an important part of NZ and should be included in our day to day lives. My dream is for New Zealanders to be fluid bilingual and I want to sow that foundation with my children. It is important to keep Te Reo alive.

Tiffany

One day I'd like to be confident in my Maori so that there isn't this cultural disconnect in my life. it's important I think for everyone to be able to confidently express where they come from and be connected to their iwi and ancestors. Maori culture is filled with beautiful traditions and beautiful language that isn't being fully appreciate by the world and there's this lack of knowledge that needs to be spread and needs to be more socially accepted.

Tia

I am sharing my own te reo Maori journey as I learn basic te reo for my students and whanau.

Tia

I am Maori from Te Rarawa & Te Aupouri

Tia

Because it is import to strengthen our reo here in our country, and make people aware of our culture

Thomas

Until te reo Māori is the primary language of Aotearoa New Zealand, we haven’t done enough to heal from the damage of colonisation. So I’ll do anything I can to help with that revitalisation.

Anthea

For my children

Teupoko

My whānau lost the language cause it was literally beaten out of my tupuna wahine when she was a tamaiti by ngā kaiako. As a kaiako now myself I want to ensure that each child's home language is recognised and celebrated. That they feel safe and confident to speak it. Our country is now multicultural so its important to help grow global citizens since NZ is very xenophobic.

Tessa

As a school and class we strive to celebrate the uniqueness and diversity we have to offer as a collective. Unfortunately we see our Maori learners shy away when it comes to being proud of their heritage in comparison to that of our Pasifika learners. Maori is an important part of New Zealands history and needs to continue to be celebrated and talked about. This week and moving forward as a class we are striving to actively make an effort to incorporate Te Reo into our daily lives and class routine.

Tessa

Te reo Maori was pushed out of Maori culture while my dad was growing up and being schooled. Although he used simple sentences and phrases in te reo throughout my childhood, I believe that if he had not been pushed to disconnect from Maori language we would not have been deprived of learning more te reo Maori. Language is the gateway to ones culture and heritage. I want our future tamariki to have endless opportunities to learn about our tipuna, and language is the first step.

Tess

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana maori

Terynne

Because Te Reo Maori is such a beautiful, unique and contextually significant language to learn, use and encourage the speaking of.

TeRito

Ki te whakamana i te reo Māori me te akiaki i te iwi whānui o Aotearoa ki te kōrero i tō tātou reo rangatira

Terewai

Our language is very important to myself, our culture and people. It’s a beautiful language which isn’t tainted and needs awareness so that others like myself can learn and become fluent in a language that will not be forgotten.

TeMihirangi

My dad spoke fluently, id love to, too!

Teddy

Keep Te Reo Māori alive for my tamariki and mokopuna!

Teana

Tukuna te reo kia rere!

Te Whare a Maui

To keep my reo alive and to teach my whanau so we can enjoy the experience as one

Te Waiwhakaataata waiahurangi wikitoria Tina Moeroa Aorangi

To keep our Māori language alive

Te Puke Primary School

Important because it should be my first language! Engari, ko taku reo tuatahi ko te reo ō nga tangata raupatu whenua. ❤️

Te Maemaerihana

It is who I am and who my kids Titokowaru and tãwhirimãtea are I would love for us all to be able to speak te reo

Te Hiroa

Te Reo Māori is everything to me

Te Ari

Ko tōku reo te taura wairua e tāpiri ana ahau ki te Atua mai I tōnā tama Kia puāwai tōku mauri kia tau.

Te Aomihia

Ko Te Aomihia ahau, No Aotearoa.

Te Aomihia

To finally reconnect to my Māoritanga and begin my Te reo journey.

Tayla

I work at a Kōhanga and I want to teach the children, I need to learn myself first.

Tayen

Connecting with my History

tawake matenga