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'

This is my language, my culture and and growing up my grandparents were fluent in te reo, but because of their traumas from their past they were very clear in not teaching us because they would worry for us in that we would be treated the same as they were back in their day. So we never learnt our language. Now I have kids and together we are learning our language and seeing the beauty it holds we just want more! ! !

Bille

To enable all citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand to have the opportunity to learn Te Reo Maori has the potential to enrich everyone's lives.

Roy

We value te reo Māori as one of the official languages of Aotearoa. We want our students and staff to have the opportunity to be part of nationwide recognition of this beautiful language that is part of who we are.

Jacqui

the language is the key to the history of our culture and NZs pathway

Dagmar

It's important for me to take part as my children are Maori (I am pakeha); and I want to keep their culture alive by learning to use Maori greetings, understand tikanga and use correct pronunciation.

Adrienne

My journey of te Reo is about sharing and learning and building my confidence

Jenny

I am a teacher and I would like to use more greetings, songs and commands in my classroom.

Catherine

It’s up to us to continue our language. If we don’t do it, who else will? We (māori) have a ātaahua culture that deserved to be shared and loved with many! Pākeha, non pākeha and māori as one. He whānau kotahi tatou 😎

Avalon

I enrolled for 2020 year to learn Te Reo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa , unfortunately I didn't get a space on the course but I am on the waitlist and hope to get a space for next year. I work with a lot of Maori patients and would like to be able to have some communication with them in Te reo. Plus I am a kiwi and we should all be able to speak the language that is native to our country.

Karyn

Because I am half Maori. And I love Ye Reo maori. Even though I can't speak alot. . it will always be in me.

Maxine

I'd like my tamariki to have some identity that includes te ao maori.

Zara

To understand the history of binational partnership, first step is to learn the spirit and soul behind the language. To envision united country, embedding language is key. NZ need to overcome ‘māori’ / non-māori’ division. Not just for pākiha but māori people to find ways to help non-māori people to embrace the culture. If customs are not used correctly, please do not tell people off (graphic images, words). . we are trying to unite but it doesn’t help if we are told off when it’s not ‘perfectly correct’. .

Makiko

Toi te kupu, toi te mana, toi te whenua. I would like to participate in activities that strengthen the Maori culture.

Layne

Being new to New Zealand I want to learn about it’s people and culture. Bringing people together and showing respect and care is something I believe will create a harmonious community and something I would like to be a part of. And I love learning new languages!

It is a good time for me to learn more te reo and become comfortable using it in my everyday life.

Olwen

Kia mahorahora te reo Maori

Paula

This is an important historic event that began a revival for Te Reo Mãori.

Katherine

Reo is apart of who I am as Maaori.

Krista

Understanding

Julie

Keep the language alive, culture, customs alive. Especially with a lot of different nationalities entering NZ who have little understanding.

Joelene

Toku reo toku ohooho

Nerys

To help preserve this Taonga for generations to come

Megan

Its part of who I am. And I want my tamariki to learn who they are and where our people came from.

Ata

Te reo is such a beautiful language with a lot of meaning behind it. As one of our official languages, it's important to keep learning and including te reo in my daily korero so I continue to play my part in supporting equitable outcomes.

Fiona

Its the language of the people of this country and its important that we all learn. This is my fourth year learning

Dee

Because we need to encourage others and it gives me another opportunity to do this. Also my reo will develop too.

Phobie

Te Reo Maori is a critical aspect of our heritage as a nation. By supporting, encouraging, learning and using we are showing how proud we are of its uniqueness and doing our part to protect this taonga.

Louise

Cos my daughter is and I want to learn how to speak the reo

Stacey

Te reo is a taonga of Aotearoa- it is imperative that we learn it and keep it alive.

Sarah

As a school we are proud to be supporting Te Reo Māori. Our staff have been learning Te Reo a few years ago, and are still using greetings in everyday conversation. I took up whakairo last year, and hope to introduce this into our project based curriculum in 2022. The first stage of this will be giving our students opportunities to identify their whakakpapa through the use of Kowhaiwhai. I have undertaken this journey myself last year. (see picture)

Anthony

Because our whole ahua here n aotearoa revolves around aroha and tikanga. We can’t lose ours in the rep Maori because it is most pure.

Roy

Wanting to be a māmā myself, I want to be able to pass down our beautiful language and culture and have it continue through our family for generations to come.

Sasha

My children are Maori

Hollie

Kia ora! The why is that Māori is the official teo reo of Aotearoa, and every child should as a matter of course through our education system be bilingual in both Māori and English.

Charlotte

I love speaking with my Dad

Hawaiki Ka’iulani

The other night my daughter woke up at 2 am crying. I was exhausted. . . she cried out Miraka, Miraka, Miraka, I awoke smiling and got her some Miraka. My daughter and I love our te reo Maori journey. We talk everday and it makes us happy

Hawaiiki

I am pakeha New Zealander. Most of my whanau are Maori. Have always tried to use some te reo. Can certainly do better

Colleen

For me it be because I would like to learn my language with my children/moko. . . Learning about my whole whakapapa. . . Learning our tikanga of the lands, seas & protocols. . .

Katrena R

To preserve and celebrate Maori heritage.

Imee

It’s my culture. It’s my identity. It connects me to my tupuna and whenua. I want to keep our reo alive so my Tamariki and mokopuna can learn it and thrive.

Anania

I did not have the opportunity to even decide for myself if I wanted to learn Te Reo Maori as I grew up. I actually didn't know I had Maori ancestry back then. Now I live in a beautiful community where I hear it spoken in the street, a natural part of every day life. It makes my heart smile. I'd love to see all New Zealanders comfortable with this unique and beautiful language.

Kristin

The love and proud of being Māori and to guide the next generation of my whānau

Jonathan

For my kids

Heather

It’s important for me because it helps form & maintain my connection with my father.

Joan-Ella

I learnt Maori as a second language but have been overseas for almost 20 years. I am a teacher's college graduate who majored in bilingual studies and Te Reo and taught in bilingual settings. I have lost so much and feel almost guilty that I now speak better German than Maori. So, time to get back into Kaupapa Maori - first step - Te Reo

Malcolm

My tamariki and being able to connent them with their whakapapa! Stoking the fire! Adding to my Māoritanga journey ❤️

Diane

I feel Te Reo is a desire of mine to learn. I want to be part of this movement here in Aotearoa.

Heather

The first language of Aotearoa should be te reo. I am learning or re-learning the language but am finding it difficult to find intuitive resources to improve reading and translation skills. For example, te reo is not a featured language on any of major language app platforms. Most resources are are stuffy, academic and at times, religious, with outdated language and usage. Also, we must focus on the language, and not think that singing a song, or memorising a karakia is progresss, we must create pathways to fluency (spoken, reading and writing).

Jerry

For the next generation ❤️ To keep the language and culture alive and bright.

Natasha

Ae tika! Our reo is very unique. For me that reason is because from our reo comes the pūrākau which guides us. From our reo is our connection to te ao Māori, ngā atua, ngā hau e wha me tātou whānau, regardless of where we all are (physically, mentally, spiritually). It upholds a sense of belonging and a greater well being within us to be able to korero Māori and allows te iwi Māori to stay true and stand strong and humble as we strive to learn generations of knowledge through our unique reo.

Carmela

Toi te kupu, toi te mana, toi te whenua

Annie

I would love use of our language to become part of our every day home and work lives. We missed out on this as children, as did my Dad and regaining it would add so much richness to our lives. Photo of me and my beautiful Gabrielle Te Aria

lynda

As time moves forward, many beautiful things begin to slowly trickle to a halt from what was once a giant stream. Language, culture and whanau should stay strong within the flow of a stream for as long as we can hold onto it.

Chris

Toku reo toku mapihi maurea WAIRUA

Wai

Just to be part off who we are

Charlene

I want to learn the Maori language and be able to say I learnt something new.

Wayne

It’s important I take part each year as it’s easy to be complacent with my reo and leave our reo journey up to our online classes and my children’s kura to do the teaching. Each Māori language month I am challenged to use more reo at home and I want to do this more naturally with the upcoming birth of my new baby who deserves to be raised in te reo from the get go 😁

Tayla

I would love a country of fluent speaking te reo. My sons family are quite confident and I am learning along side him my goal is to have him fluet or very confident and it starts at home

Jasmyne

It’s the language of this land and I believe whole heartedly that we should be learning this in schools ! I try to use Te reo in written and verbal communication and have also introduced myself using my Pepeha. If everyone had a desire to learn this beautiful language we can keep it alive for generations to come.

Alieta

My why is: 'Ko te reo te waka e kawe ana i ngā tikanga Māori' He kaiako Māori au, e whakaako ana au ki te Rehu kura. Ko te reo Māori te reo o tēnēi whenua, he reo whakahirahira, me whakanuia i tā mātou reo rangatira!

Kahi

I want to make a stable reo foundation not just for me but also for my whaanau and my friends.

Michelle

It’s part of my journey in discovering my language and being proud of who I am and where I come from.

Apriall

Its important because no matter where I am in the world I always carry my maori culture with me and my reo is but one part of that. . .

Tasha

Kō te reo Māori te reo ake ō Aotearoa! Mama noa iho.

Sonny Ahomiro

I started learning Te reo Māori about a year ago, I heard on the radio that Te reo Māori was considered a dead language because so few were fluent, I felt a responsibility to change that narrative, it has been an amazing journey that has taught me so much about Te reo , tikanga and also about myself as a person. Te reo Māori is one of our official languages and also a Taonga , I hope to be fluent one day and encourage others to try as well. I hope this is a place where all who call Aotearoa home , can come together. Nga mihi 😊

Mal

Because te reo Māori is a taonga and an official language of Aotearoa. Te tiriti o Waitangi protects and gives Māori the right to practice their tikanga. I want the crown to recognise the importance of continuing to support the revitalisation of this language and every day not just one week of the year. Māori have the freedom to paint their whare with what ever colour they want, they are given the paint but only given the brushes for one week of the year.

Trina
Te Huakore

To hold onto my identity and who I am. Pass it on to my daughter so that she may know who she is and where she is from.

Ripia

I'm a kiwi and a polyglot. I speak 5 other languages to some degree. About time to add more Maori to my kete

Ruth

Kia ora e te iwi. It is important for me to learn te reo Māori through reo, whakapapa, waiata, and purakau. It is through the wairua where I feel the essence of my Māori culture, I feel an obligation to pass my knowledge, whakapapa etc to my tamariki, and nga tamariki within my community; the next generation. So I need to learn as much as and learn and teach my tamariki along the way. I believe there is power in numbers and people. The more people to participate in this, the more exposure people in the world will have to Māori culture. Social media is a powerful way to get a message across, why not use it as a way to share our beautiful culture.

Leah

Because our reo is our culture and we must keep it thriving and supporting others to learn. . . . Toku reo toku ohooho, toku mapihi maurea

Shelly

Kia hāpai i aku irāmutu te kōrero i te reo Māori, ā, mā tērā rātou ka noho āhuru ki ta rātou kiri Māori

Riria

our ancestor from Rongowhakaata was adopted into a pākehā whanau and our connection was lost. My generation are rebuilding it with our journey with te reo.

Rebecca

Closes with disabed whanau

Tauri

He mea motuhake the reo maori, kia ora tonu the iwi maori me ngona tikanga katoa. He ataahua hoki te reo e rere ana

Terereawai

To start my learning from somewhere along with my team!

Jas

To honour tangata whenua

Moveen

Because it is the duty of each and every citizen of Aotearoa New Zealand to be a "Treaty partner". (see Ted Glynne in several articles). Especially as teachers, we are in the unique position to be able to normalise the use of te reo me ngā tikanga māori for the future generation. I am learning and sharing my journey with my students. (note: because students are involved, I will not share a video or a photo of what I chose to do with them).

Sonia

It should never have been beaten out of our tupuna

Sharrie

I am a psychotherapist and identify as Māori but grew up pākehā. . . I'd like to connect with my cultural heritage to strengthen my own identity, work more appropriately and effectively with our people, and start walking the talk!

Kim

Because our Reo matters

Aingel

Te Reo Māori connects me with my past, present and future.

Angelique

Te Reo is a beautiful unique language that was nearly lost, just like my native language Irish. Language is a big part of a country's culture and it connects the people together. It gives you a strong sense of belonging and connection through time and to the generations before us.

Catherine

Honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te reo Māori

InsideOUT

Because I want my child to be able to speak and understand her own culture

Chantel

"My language is my strength an ornament of grace". I am constantly learning and never getting very far, however I love, love, love it. Being part of te Wiki o te reo Māori is about feeling closer to my community and moving past the 'not good enough Māori' stigma. I am unapologetically Māori, I am unapologetically Indigenous

Joanne

I'm moving to New Zealand and want to be able to communicate in te reo Mãori. 😊

Chris

I love the language of te reo Maori. My poppa is Maori and my partner is Maori. I would love to be able to hold a conversation in Te reo and be part of the movement to keep the language alive. I love speaking to my students in Maori. Learning Te reo is a hobby of mine and I just want to keep learning and learning. I’m very passionate about teaching and part of that is learning how to incorporate Maori into young children’s every day lives!

Michaela

Because it is important to my identity and as a child I really struggled with it. Now as an adult, I feel ashamed for not knowing it comfortably and confidently

Bonnie

It's important to learn te reo as it is our duty to learn the language of this beautiful country.

Sei

Our language is so beautiful along with our culture. Weneed to embrace it and share it with everyone.

Didiz

It is important to integrate te reo into everyday life as it is one of Aotearoa's core languages, and the language of tangata whenua.

Sian

I thought it would be a new experience to try out and see what I get out of it

Bijan

I want to be able to share more reo with the tamariki at work and for them to learn and share as they head off to school. Now is when they will learn new languages and when we need to be embracing it.

Sarah

My husband is Maori and so are my children. I want to keep their heritage alive by sharing the knowledge with the next generation.

Katy

Encourages my children to learn and participate and continue using Te reo in their everyday life.

Marie

To support and foster te reo in our NZ community.

viv

So I can keep growing, learning and sharing Te reo Māori with our tamariki . Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – for us and our children after us

Dana

My Poppa, Stephen Joseph Geary, loved the Maori people and the Maori language. He was European, but he named one of his daughters Ngare, a Maori name. He always said we should all learn Maori, and I want to commit to keeping the language going in his name.

Fritt

Brmecause I feel like i don't make the most of my wonderful heritage-I'm so blessed and lucky to be Māori and if I can be one of the million that prove to the rest of the country how important and special our language and tikanga is to us than that will be a day well spent.

Tenge