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'

To support authentic biculturalism in Aotearoa and strengthen my understanding of te reo

Liz

for my kids

Livi

It is part of our identity and respecting ourselves, our neighbour and our land

Liv

Since becoming a kaiako and completing my degree. . . it has become more important to me to speak and teach te reo maori as much as I can. I understand the importance of ‘keeping the language alive’ and believe I am in the best position working with tamariki to inspire and encourage them to learn and speak te reo too. I love singing waiata with our tamariki, it brings my so much joy and I’m proud to be able to teach and learn alongside them.

Rachel

We are a beautiful, resilient, strong people with so much to share with the world that is unique. Our stories and perspective are precious Tāonga that need to be cherished. The blog post slug for this story is: lissy_-_tamaki_makaurau

Lissy

Its important because we want to recognize that NZ is bicultural and it gives more mana to Te reo in our workplace.

Lisa

Because Te Reo is the first language of Aotearoa and while only part of my whanau are Maori, I want to protect the language and join initiatives that do that. It is a special part of being a kiwi and growing up in Aotearoa. Being in kapahaka, learning Te Reo, being a part of the community and culture.

Lisa

To celebrate tikanga and te ao maori through more frequent use and better understanding of te reo

Lisa

To keep Te Reo Maori alive

Lisa

My tamariki are maori and I am a part time teacher. I want both my own children and the children I teach to respect te reo maori and their own culture.

Lisa

I would really love for all New Zealanders to be able to learn te reo Maori from early childhood it would give us an understanding of, connection to and respect for Maori culture no matter what our background.

Lisa

To promote the importance Of and the use of Te Ao Maori.

Lisa

I am a New Zealander with colonial ancestry from 1843 Totally identify as a kiwi and although I can’t change colonial history want to help Aotearoa move forward as a United bicultural nation understanding diversity and specifically the needs of Maori in our modern world. I’m a retired teacher who used some te reo comfortably with children and whanau. I would like to do more. Te reo Maori is the language of our whenua! ! !

Belinda

This supports my personal Te Reo journey. It will be Wonderful to be part of a nation who will be in unison, singing, speaking, listening and embracing the reo. Brown and proud. Tau kē ! ! !

Nancy

To show my tamariki why it's important to grasp our native tongue and to cherish it. Also to build my confidence and to show them its never too late to learn. L

Leslie

I would like to know more about the Maori culture and Ive wanted to learn te reo Maori As a way of doing that.

Lesley

Married to a Maori and we try to make Te Reo a daily part of our lives.

Leonie

Ka reo o matau tupuna, mo matau moko puna,

Leisa

I'm manuhiri. My recent ancestors flew from across moana nui a kiwa and I feel a deep sense of connectedness to this place as Pasifika. I also feel a deep sense of responsibility in upholding the Reo and Tikanga, centering Māori language and culture on this whenua. I want to help in whatever way I can to preserve the language and culture here.

Lanny

Because I'm part Maori and can't speak the language.

LeeAnne

Embrace our cultural identity within Aotearoa thst is uniquely ours. Encourage students and faculty to speak and learn Te Reo Maori language

leeana

Aotearoa is the only country in the world that speaks Te Reo Maori, if we don't keep it alive here, it dies. It is our repsonsibility to keep this wonderful language (and by extension, culture) alive. It is up to us to empower others in doing so.

Emma-Lee

to keep our reo alive is to honor our culture. I wasnt given the opportunity growing up to connect with my culture so am doing everything I can to learn now.

Leanne

Ko te reo te taikura ō te whakaaro marama

Leanne

Te Reo is unique and is part of our culture here in NZ. It is our country's heritage and plays an important role in every New Zealanders life. I would like to take part to learn more about te reo Maori, supporting my students and myself in our own journeys.

Leanne

Kia Ora, For years I have sat back watching close friends and family learning Te Reo Maori and thriving. . . I want a part of that, I just have to get my nono into gear and do it! I've been encouraging those around me for years now but it's time to claim my own Tohu for my own reo journey! I know a little but not a lot, I understand a little but not a lot, I'm Hoha with that and want more! I tutor Kapa Haka at our School but I feel like I could give them more without relying on my fluent speaking whānau and friends. It would be a dream to see our language soar and learnt at mainstream schools, I'd love for my own children to learn Te Reo without having to travel a distance or pay extra at an institution to get what can be obtained at their own school. Something that should've been done from the start.

Leanne

Kia ora, do I have to tell you, too much pressure, I just want to see Aotearoa become one

Lea

It is important for me to take part to acknowledge the tangata whenua of the land that I call home.

Laura-Anne

Te reo is so important and needs to be bought back to life

Laura

Te reo Māori opens my eyes

Laura

Our kids were kohanga kids and now in rumaki reo. It is important that I learn alongside them to keep te reo Maori thriving in our whare.

Lance

I think it's important for us to connect with Maori culture

Laila

My ansestors fought to ensure we have the beautiful life we do today, the least I can do is take the time to learn about my whakapapa and speak the beautiful language.

Lacy

Its important that i learn the first language of our tipuna.

Noa

So speaking Te reo Māori is part of every day life for my tāmariki

Kylie

For the two to be taked amongst the tamariki through pukapuka me waiata and getting tau iwi tamariki to learn about another culture and a important one of two to Aotearoa.

Kylie

Te Reo is our country’s heritage/culture and our point of difference.

Kylee

14 September is my birthday and I feel like I am a part of Māori as well.

Kulathorn

I believe all new Zealand children should learn the Reo it is a huge part of our culture. I teach home based care, I believe it up to every NZer to keep Te Reo alive. I am on the learning journey with Te Reo so I can pass on what I learn to the children. It is proven that children that learn a second language at a young age are better able to learn other languages in latter life , lets give them the start with the chance to learn and imbrace Te Reo first . I have seen in other countries how (ie Australai where in primary school Japanesse is taught as a second language) that saddens me. I am proud that NZ is so strong on teaching our indigenous

Krystyna

As this is part of my culture and have wanted to o do this for a long time

Krys

My great grandparents were the last of our whānau to speak Te Reo. sadly my grandparents were discouraged from speaking our language and subsequently my mother and myself, my siblings and our children did not learn, hear or speak Te Reo. I want to be able to set a new course where we celebrate being Māori and be part of normalizing our reo :)

Kristina

It is important for me because of my son. I have a Maori partner and she speaks beautiful reo to our son. I want our whare to be diverse and never lose our culture or language.

Kristijan

Te reo is an integral part of us, as New Zealanders

Kristen

He māori ahau! My reo is limited, so I’m excited to get involved and build my confidence as well as my children’s confidence with te reo. Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori is such a great opportunity for us to come together to enjoy, celebrate and extend ourselves in kōrero Māori. Thank you for creating the opportunity for this moment 🙂

Kristelle

Kia mōhio ngā tauira, he Whare Wānanga reo Māori tēnei. Me kōrero ki ngā wāhi katoa o te Whare Wānanga. Mōku ake, kia noho haumaru ai te reo mō ngā tamariki me ngā mokopuna.

Krista

I reckon its an important kaupapa that everyone knows or at least understands the history of aotearoa, and that a good stsrting place for that is the reo.

Korihi

We live in NZ, and am proud to do so. Maori language and culture is part of us, I want my children to grow up understanding it and it just being a normal part of their lives.

Koren

Whakapapa 😍

Tiere

i am a part of the land and culture. It is my duty and pleasure.

kiya

I want to support the flourishing of Te Reo Maori in Aotearoa so that it is seen by everybody as a normal part of all of our lives no matter what culture we come from. I would like to see Te reo Maori taught all the way through school to year 13 so that it is more widely spoken and treasured as part of our national identity.

Kirsty

Because I am a teacher and I really want to encourage my students and learn alongside them to celebrate and learn more about Te Reo

Kirsty

My ancestors were some of the first settlers in nz. We’ve lived in this country for decades, generations! Some of us are amazing with their te reo, but some of us older ones aren’t as good. I want to change that!

Kirstie

I do want to learning te reo maori to support increased usage, to understand what they are saying when people do their mihi or speeches in te reo.

Kirsten

Māori is the first language of Aotearoa and therefore we all are responsible for contributing to its growth in use.

Kirsten

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Kiri

My culture is my identity. My identity is defined by my whakapapa. Who I am, is my family.

Kiri

It’s about being committed to change - I’m not a tree so I can move, I just have to do it and Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori is a great time to accept the challenge to improve

Kimiora

Living away from home for such a long time (25yrs) I am finding as the years go by, the yearning to return gets stronger. Having this connection along with the many other resources and learning portals available now is incredible and so so important to give my mokopuna here as much of who they are as possible, to the best of my abilities I want to instil in them who we are as a people, how proud we stand as a Maori and that Aotearoa will always be our Turangawaewae. The importance of our language, as basic or as proficient as we can be, be proud

Kimiora

To learn the language, normalize it and to pass it on to my children and the community.

Kimberly

To get te reo going stronger for future generations

Kimberley

To bring awareness to the language

Kimberley

Because te reo maori is part of new zealands history and should be valued.

Kimberley

Keeping our language alive and active and one aspect to keeping our culture alive and active. The it is used regularly and easier it is to become a norm of NZ society.

Kim

Because personally I don't know enough but more importantly there is strength in numbers and I want to support this cause and knowledge building.

Kim

Because te reo Māori is part of being a New Zealander.

Kim

Because I believe it is important that we acknowledge the importance of growing te reo Māori kupu for all New Zealand people and celebrate the beautiful language it is

Kim

To show respect to the tangata whenua of Aotearoa. . The only way for te reo Maori to become mainstream is if we all start speaking it.

Kim

Language is a huge part of a culture. Te reo Maori is beautiful and it is rich with layers and layers of meaning. It is important to me that the language becomes normalised for all of us in Aotearoa as a sign of respect to Maori, past and present. While it can’t fix the injustices that have happened to, by ensuring the language is known (and therefore the customs etc within), I would hope that greater understanding can occur and that this will help prevent any ongoing injustice.

Kim

I am grateful to call Aotearoa my home and want to make sure I honour tangata whenua. By using more Maori words in our everyday language it will reignite the language and normalise it for everyone :)

Kim

Ko to tatou reo me ona tikanga te tuapapa o te oranga o te tangata, ki te whakamahi i te reo me ona tikanga koira te whakatinanatanga o te mana motuhake o tatou whanautanga, haputanga, iwitanga, Maoritanga, oranga tonutanga.

kihi

Te Reo Maori is apart of me and apart of who I want to be. doing my part ensures my sons future is full of opportunities without discrimination

kieran

Because I am Māori

Kiana

Because we have a commitment as a partner to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Keryn

Because I believe Te reo Maori should be taught in all school. It is our indigenous language and it is so important our tamarind grow up knowing the history and language if Aotearoa

Kerryn

I am a teacher and have my own children. To grow up in NZ is so unique and we need to share our stories and history with them so they have an understanding of where we are now.

kerri

As I would love Te Reo to be spoken more as its an important part of who we are as NZers and needs to widely used and accepted. It would help me to learn as I would have more opportunity to use.

Kerri

Kia noho ngātahi tātou me ngā tāngata kōrero Māori o Te motu.

Kere

It defines what it means to be a kiwi, plus its a beautiful language

kelvin

I grew up in Ngaruawahia where using te reo was common. Knowing the basics really helped when I started to learn other languages; Japanese and Spanish. As an exchange student in Paraguay I saw how proud they were of their indigenous language (guarani) and how easily they integrated it into daily conversation. I hope one day NZ will be like that.

Kelly

To learn about the culture and history of my home.

Kelly

I want to make a contribution

Kelly

it's important to me so that our language and culture can survive and to give me a purpose

Kelly

I whakapapa to Ngai Tāhu and want to learn more of my history. I believe that all NZer's should have the ability to learn the language of their country and this language is as unique to us. I wish more spoke it everyday so I could keep my learning up. If we lived in a country where reo was the first language and english the second wouldn't that be wananei!

Kelly

To Normalise and Revitalise Te Reo for my students and whanau.

Kelly

To Normalise and Revitalise Te Reo for myself as Maori and for my children.

Kelly

Maori language is part of who I am and I need to learn it. It's a responsibility I feel I have to learn for my child also. Also hope to find my grounding and who I am through the language.

Kelly

It’s our culture we belong here we need to take back what’s ours

Keisha

Its important as a school to take part in this movement. It links us all together

Keira

It is important as a country to do important movements together.

Keira

Te reo Maaori is important to me to engage and teach with my whanau

Keileen

because te reo maori is important to me and my family as it is my culture and native tongue

Keelyn

I am a teacher and I have the opportunity to influence the minds of our tamariki. It is important to share this message of 'Kia Kaha Te Reo'. This would be an awesome way to connect with others who are sending the same message.

Keely

Languages are who we are. Te Reo Maori is special. It is only spoken in New Zealand. It is our responsibility, all New Zealanders', to revitalise Te Reo. If we don't, who else would do?

Kazue

It helps to keep Te reo alive in New Zealand, to pass down to our children.

Kayleen

So that I am able to teach and pass down te reo to my son.

Kayla

Nā te mea e taea au te kōrero māori no reira me tautoko au I tēnei o ngā kaupapa. Me te mea hoki he tamaiti au e akona ki tētahi kura Aho Matua.

Kayla

Mo nga tupuna

Kaye

Te Reo is a taonga that belongs only to Aotearoa. We want it to thrive as a living language. To do this it must be taught in schools and used and understood everywhere in our country. The honouring of te reo is our tesponsibility u der te tiriti au AoteRoa.

Kaye

He taonga te reo Māori. As the indigenous language of Aotearoa, te reo Māori is very special. As a Pākehā, I am committed to learning, speaking and sharing as much Māori language as I can. I acknowledge the mamae my tūpuna caused and how their colonisation of our country took te reo Māori from those who whakapapa to it. I believe that I can be a respectful Tiriti partner and become a better ancestor to the next generation, by doing all that I can to learn, normalise, celebrate and kōrero Māori i ngā wā katoa, i ngā wāhi katoa hoki. I have spent decades learning and unlearning but I still have a long way to go to get to fluency. Participating in Mahuru Māori is one way I can share my love of te reo Māori with my tamariki and my community.

Kay

I'm Maori. It should be part of us & NZ. I never learnt it at school. Our generation wasn't encouraged or wasn't an option. Our Language is precious, impressive & part of us as Maori. We should be speaking it daily.

Katy Nepia