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'

As a 'blow in' from the UK I feel a responsibility to honour the culture of the place I've chosen to call home and raise my children. I want my kids to grow up understanding that language is a key part of a culture and that it must be cherished and used or part of the culture is lost. My Welsh and Cornish ancestors lost their language and I mourn that loss.

Amanda

I want to feel more connected to the land and to do this I feel I need to be more connected with the mana whenau. And to do this I need to speak their language. (Literally and figuratively)

Robyn

Language revitalisation has been a hard fought effort, and one that requires on-going support but one that we all benefit from, as a community, a people and a nation. Ko te reo te hā o te Māoritanga me te mana Māori.

Matiu

Because this is my culture, and Matua told me to

Nöku te haepapatanga ki te whakamana, ki te körero I to tātou reo.

Kaareen

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori

Eddiena

I have a deep respect for Maori and their language and I have been learning about that for 4 years now

Nenabella

I have a little Kapa Haka me Pasifika group of 150-200 tamariki, who are in our roopu by their own choice. They choose to represent parts of their whakapapa or their country by choice. I teach in a school of over 400 students. So it is an honour for me to support these tamariki to learn, to waiata, to korero, to express our unique and tino ataahua culture, reo, tikanga with the top most integrity. Its an honour that i hope my tupuna glance down and feel remembered and loved.

mabel

Te reo is part of our culture and our heritage, I want to celebrate that.

Luke

Our why is to create awareness within our organisation. To show our commitment to the revitalisation of Te Reo Maori.

Rangitīkei

Our recognition of te reo Māori as an official language of New Zealand is a critical part of how we recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Our annual commitment to Te wiki o te reo Māori and the chance for us to take part in one in a million is another way we can demonstrate our values.

Massey University Library Manawat≈´

New Zealanders are Kind and the diversity in culture really make a difference. We are all IN together

Kevin

Because I want my children to know their mother tongue.

Billie

learning any culture is cool and learning the culture of the country you live in is super cool. . . . the history , the people the language are so important to living.

kevin

I have been in New Zealand 17 years, I know some Maori words, although pronunciation is not always the best I would like to improve and learn more so I can be a good role model for students. I think its important to protect the language and culture and if I can help to do this I will be happy.

Debbie

We should ALL foster te reo Māori in NZ. Its unique to this whenua and as a NZer I appreciate being here and wish I could korero more in te reo but baby steps. . . . . I loved singing in Māori at primary school and counting and learning colours, but as an adult have not engaged enough. Te reo should be learnt and cherished by anyone who wants to call Aotearoa home. I will be fostering this at work. Kia kaha!

Sarah

Nō te mea, ko te reo Māori te reo rangatira! ! !

Hannah

For me It is important to keep the language alive for my tamariki. This will not only help them learn and grow but also understand where they are from and help give them a sense of belonging in a world that will throw them so many curve balls.

Lalita

I was born and raised in Australia, all I knew was that I was part Māori. Somehow my mother was able to make us proud to be 'part' Māori. I decided to do an 'oe' back in the 80's for the purpose of learning te reo Maori, after my 12 months I returned to Australia. Then moved to NZ in 1991 when I was hapu with my son as I didn't want my children growing up being mistaken for being from a different ethnicity (Italia, Greek, Chinese). I grew up hearing the stories of how my mother was strapped at school for speaking / uttering kupu Maori. We are surrounded by kupu Maori in Aotearoa and our kupu / reo deserves to be pronounced properly.

Carolyn

As a teacher I want to do my bit to improve my knowledge and understanding of Te Reo Maori. I find it hard to remember and learn this language, so a word a day send through by someone from BLENNZ is helping me to slowly improve.

Ellen

To be part od the community

Louise

For me as tauiwi and a multilingual person I've always been fascinated by the languages and I understand the importance of being able to use your own language as well as taken the effort of understanding someone else's language. Your language is p[art of who you are, and no other language will be able to allow you to express who you are as your mother tongue. Ever since moving here I've tried to incorporate Te Reo in my daily use, I've followed classes, and we're learning some mātauranga Māori at work as well. Language connects us and I do my best to be connected with all parts of New Zealand which includes the beautiful te reo. Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata Ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina No Hōrana ahau Engari E noho ana ahau kei Waihopai Ko Anke Ruwette tōku ingoa

Anke

The history of our country

Lucas

It's important to me because we need to keep the reo strong and living and the only way to do that is to encourage as many people as possible to embrace it, and love it as much as we do.

Katherine

Important to understand Te Reo and Maori culture

maurice

Ki te whakaatu whakaute. To show respect.

PSN Staff

Ko tōku moemoea ki te kite i te rere ō tō tātou nei reo. I haere au ki te taha hoa o Hoaka Pounamu kei te whare wānanga o Waitaha. I ako mātou i te tino waiwāia o te taonga nei, ko te reo. Nā reira, i whakamātau mātou ki te whakarauora i te reo me ōna tikanga kei roto i te kitenga o te ao Māori. I kite au i te uaratanga o te reo mō ngā reanga katoa o te motu.

Riripēti

I am of Ngai Tahu and Te Aitanga Mahaki, my whakapapa is important to me and my whanau, We are proud of our whanau and particularly the very strong wahine who made a difference for all wahine both Maori and pakeha. Using Te Reo is part of keeping their stories alive and for all that follow us. Nga Mihi.

Susan

Sharing te reo with those around me keeps me connected to my tupuna, particularly my Dad, my marae and iwi. I hope it also sets a good example for my children, showing how te reo can be incorporated into our everyday interactions, even though I'm a long way from being fluent.

Bernadette

to learn to pronounce words correctly

I lived in a Maori community when I was small, and have attended a lot of Maori classes, although my Reo Maori has become rusty with disuse. I need some more!

Mary

It is important that te reo is revitalised in NZ - it shows respect and honour for the tangata whenu and helps with understanding culture

Sonja

Hei tautoko te reo tūturu o Aotearoa!

Eddie

To use te reo Māori more

Tania

I started learning te reo because it is the indigenous language of this country, and an official language of this country. I am continuing to learn it because it is such a beautiful language, and because it gives an insight into te ao Māori.

I would like to 'role model' the use of te reo Maori - as I am Maori and I am passionate about my Maori culture and speaking in te reo (although I am still learning). Acknowledging and supporting things Maori is important to me - as we live in NZ, and Maori is a key part of what makes this country unique.

Adrian

Te Reo Maori te Reo motuhake o Aotearoa, kare kooatu, kare koomai. I whanau mau ahau ko te Reo Maori anake te reo i rongo au iraa, ia raa. Naa ka timata au i te kura, he rereke te reo i reira. I patua matau mo te korero te reo Maori. Inaianei kia kaha rawatu tatau te mau/ako i to tatau Reo Rangatira hei huarahi tuturu mo nga reanga e whaiake nei i muri i a tatau. Kia kaha ano tatau te awhina tetahi i tetahi atu. Mauriora.

materoa

Be nice if we could speak some maori in aotearoa

Mary

It's very important to me that we preserve the beautiful language of tangata whenua. We're so lucky to have such a beautiful native culture and language, and if we all do our bit to learn and revitalise the language, then Māori and all tamariki will grow up with a normalised culture.

Kezia

The essence of our reo is the wairua. It's the wairua that gives you guidance. When you feel the promptings of the wairua and you harken to those promptings, it's here where you're reo will really begin to flourish. Ko te wairua i tiaki mai i a tatou katoa i nga wa katoa.

Haare

For the mana of the reo, for my tamariki, for my tipuna, for myself, and to role model for the rest of Aotearoa

Olivia

I started learning Te Reo a number of years ago, but haven't been actively learning for a while, so I would like to make a conscious effort to continue my learning.

Lynley

If we can show our respect to the land & it's people by making the effort to learn the language then why not!

Ayesha

I have started an intro to Te Reo and would like to start normalising by bringing it more in to my everyday vocabulary.

Melanie

Mō aku mokopuna te take. E kore taku mihi e mimiti ki taku hungarei, te māmā o taku hoa wahine, nāna aku tamariki i rehita ki te kohanga reo . . . . . . . me tā māua kore mōhio. Inaianei, he kōrero Māori katoa aku tamariki me aku mokopuna. Nei te hua o tōna moemoea mō āna mokopuna. Ae, mō aku mokopuna te take.

Bernie

I am not originally from New Zealand. But as a native indigenous from my own country where I am the minority, I strongly believe in not only retaining, but strengthening native indigenous language of the tangata whenua. The loss of language is a loss of culture. Colonisation has resulted in many losses and while we cannot turn back time, we can make the future better. As someone from a Polynesia-southeast asian background, we share similar worldviews and values of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, amongst others. I believe that the future of Aotearoa should be guided by and should embrace te ao Maori.

Hana

Nā te kōrero o āku akonga Its our culture Because we deserve to Get to learn more So we don't forget to learn about our language Coz its us Representing our whānau It's our pride, our mana Coz we don't want to lose our language

Philomena

to reconnect with my whanau

Tina

Te reo Māori can only be revitalised by people! Not only is it a beautiful language that I enjoy learning, but the thought of it being lost through our generation is devastating. I want to be a part of revitalising as a sign of respect to the tangata whenua of our beautiful country.

Nic

Te reo is a beautiful language and a special part of the culture of Aotearoa. A living language is essential to the health of any culture; I believe Māori should be able to see, hear and speak their language as part of everyday life in Aotearoa, and that all New Zealanders can contribute to this becoming a reality.

Julia

Want to korero more, our reo is beautiful reo better then English

Atawhai

It’s important to me and my children because we are Maori and we all want to learn to speak fluent Te Reo Maori. It’s good for our wairua.

Helena

Our culture and heritage are a very importnant part of our learning at school and we want to come together to celebrate Te Wiki O Te Reo.

I am a Māori who was not fully immersed into the language or the culture as such. This is one way to learn more and build on what I do know. I also believe that Aotearoa can form an even stronger identity as a nation, if we take these sorts of steps.

Jason

Ki te maumahara tōku reo

Apera

My kids are fluent and are in Kura so I need to be able to keep up with them

Jamie

I live in a bicultural society and I should be able to speak both languages. I notice that speaking a language really gives insight into the world of that culture. I work in Corrections, where Maori are hugely over-represented, and I want to be able to interact with clients in a way that is respectful and honouring of their culture.

It is so important for all of us to take responsibility to pass the knowledge on. It is our birth right and priviledge to have this opportunity to keep the language alive, thrive and strive for the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori for all New Zealanders. Here at Immerse, we strive to ensure we meet our cultural obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, by ensuring that staff are well equipped to know how to apply cultural awareness into there own practice. We do this by holding daily karakia and waiata session, we use Māori greetings and farewells, both formal and informal. We take the time to pronounce Māori names and place names correctly. This quote by Sir James Henare, reminds us all of that importance: "Ko te reo te mauri o te Mana Māori" - The language is the life force of the Mana Maori.

Freda

Our Reo is so important to who we are as not only Maori but as our unique identity as New Zealanders.

Brooke

I think we need to use our Maori language more , also me as a individual I want to embrace my culture.

Jessica

I want to embed Te Reo into my every day life. I want to feel confident and competent with the language.

Michelle

I am Maori. I am the descendant of Paikea and his long line of chiefs and leaders. My mother and father are Maori and their mothers and fathers are too. Its my duty as a coasty to keep the vibe alive hahaha But, most importantly, I would love to see our culture strive in the future generations and beyond that. We are The Whalers <3

Te Ngariki

“Ko te reo te taikura o te ao mārama”

Rewi

Ko tō tātou reo Māori he reo tuku iho i o tātou mātua tūpuna, he reo kāmehameha, he reo rangatira. Ki te whakanui ahau i te reo Māori, ka maumahara ahau i ōku tūpuna, i ōku mātua, i ngā toa o te Reo i o rātou rā, ā, ka ora anō rātou. I tēnei tau kei mua, kei muri, kei runga, kei raro i oku whakaaro ko Kōka Kēri Kaa ko ia tērā i poipoi, i whakatenatena ahau kia ū ki tēnei ara o te kaiako. E kore e warewaretia tēnei wahine toa ko ia tērā i pakanga, te pakanga nui mō mātou āna ākonga Māori ki Ako Pai. E hia kē ngā kaiako kua whakaaweawe e te kuia nei, kāti rā e kore te puna o mihi e mimiti noa.

Sophie

To truly understand oneself. To know who you are, is to know where you come from. I’m on a journey of self discovery, I have been called home. Home, being my culture and our people. As a wife and mother, I am committed to learning Māori in order to step into my most authentic and loving self and ensure I do my part to pass on the gifts I learn to my children, and so forth.

Larissa

My Mother was Irish and her Father was fluent in Irish and taught the language. I know that they had to live through times when their own language was forbidden and their names had to be anglicised for all official documents. This made me angry every time I thought about it. We are blessed to have te reo Maori as an official language in this country and we must take every opportunity to preserve it. My te reo is not good and I want to improve on it. I would love to be fluent one day. Taking the first step is always the hardest.

Catherine

To raise awareness to, celebrate and learn te reo Maori. To help revitalise and strengthen the future as a living, dynamic and rich language.

Janet

Sandra from Florida. He ataahua te tangi o te reo maori e hiahia ana ahau ki te waiata.

Sandra

My boys and parent Maori

Kerry

Ao te pō, pō te ao ko tōku oranga, ko tōku whānau, ko tōku reo Māori. Me tautoko ahau ka tika!

Te

I think we have a duty to help reestablish te reo Māori as a living language of Aotearoa New Zealand!

lilly

Te reo has given me a stronger relationship to Papatūānuku and better understanding of who I am.

Aaron

Because I want to learn more about the maori culture and the language.

Maia

Kia ora, for my kupu, I wasn't taught Te Reo in my home as a child only the silly words my mother would say, as she was not allowed to talk Te Reo in school. It was lost for her, but for me, at 67yrs old it is a new beginning. Because it is not fluently spoken in our home apart from greetings, we have a limited range of kupu to use. My husband is going to Te Wananga o Kirikiriroa to learn, i have done a course with Te Ataarangi and level 2 with Te Ara Reo. My mokopuna can understand simple phrases like me. I like to sing waiata, hopefully, that will guide me as to te reo.

Gayle

It is important to me as part Maori and an Adult to learn at minimum the basics to pass on to my children.

Tanya

New Zealand is a multi-cultural society but it's our Maori roots that are unique to the country

Nick

My why is for my son who is Māori-Tongan.

Kristin

It is a core part of what it mens to be a New Zealander - we need to keep Maori in use and a vital part of our society

Olwyn

Tena koe, I'm a sixty-five year old woman, who lived for three decades in Germany. I grew up in a Maori community. attended a Maori school and got the strap whenever I used Maori in the playground. While I can hear the reo and generally understand what's going on, I'm too hakama to speak. It pains me that I have returned home and speak better German than te reo rangatira. Despite my age, I am hungry to learn the reo of my karanipapa who raised me. I also want to support my nieces, nephews, mokopuna and siblings to get on board this kaupapa.

Powhiri

Every year Te reo maori is increasing my understanding in the language . Just having time and interest in study language and culture becomes part of my world and people around you. .

Peter

Because Aotearoa is the only home of Te Reo Māori language - it has no other home.

Te Ata

To redeem our culture heritage of New Zealand and to promote Te Reo in our school.

Amanda

Mā tātou katoa te mana e whakaora ai te reo - we all have a responsibility to preserve te reo Māori. It is the first language of our county and must be kept alive and well. And learning te reo Māori opens a window to te Ao Māori. Ko te reo te taikura ki te ao mārama - language is the key to understanding.

Pippa

Its right

Barbara

Ki taku nei whakaaro, kāre i tua atu i tēnei kaupapa hei whakanui i te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. Ko te tūmanako ia ka tutuki pai tēnei kaupapa, ā, ka whakamana te tini me te mano i tō tātau reo rangatira.

Aorangi

Te reo Māori is on a journey to becoming normalized in Aotearoa as it should be - let us all get involved and give it the mana it deserves!

Sophie

I'm definitely an older maaori woman, hearing our language from whaanau, mokopuna is soo beautiful, and ask them for interpretation. And more so is our tau iwi speaking our reo is beautiful too . Love to ready and prepare myself for our Dads unveiling as well. Thank you Nga mihi kia kootoou katoa.

Annette

celebrate our national language - honour the people who fought to keep it alive

nancy

Te Reo is part of who we are as Kiwi's, it's not separate or exclusive.

Mark

It's very important for me and my husband more so my husband, as he says he feels that he can feel someone is telling him the time is right, so he decided to take up Te Reo courses which he is on his kete tuawha, so proud of him

Joanne

It is important to us to ako, to contribute to our wider community to share knowledge, understanding and a piece of our history and language with the world.

Aotearoa needs more support to develop it's own, unique culture. We have the future in our hands

Leo

Those of us with te reo Māori ability, little experience to matatau and everything in between, need to speak te reo Māori as often as possible. If a drive like this makes people actively engage in and through TRm then it is one more opportunity to TRM to be normalised in Aotearoa. TRM should not be confined to karakia and waiata, but will only become normalised when those who can, do.

Dianne

I wish i had done this years ago as our father chose not to teach us as he had been punished for using Te Reo and he did not want that happening to his children. I have have 15 mokopuna all but one born in Australia and though we identify ourselves as Maori (though 1/2) i do not know how to korero fluently.

Margaret

To ensure Te Reo is respected and valued.

Tania

My why is for my son who is Māori-Tongan.

Ofeina

It's one of 3 languages we use in NZ. We should all learn all 3. By learning we build confidence, when we are confident we can stand beside those that are different from us and love them with our whole heart and mind. Ignorance leads to misunderstanding, confusion, fear and hate. This is not the world I want to live in.

Rebecca

Te Reo is an important part of our ECE curriculum, something that we like to celebrate and implement daily with our tamariki and whanau. This is a great opportunity to extend our TeReo with in our ECE whanau and community.

Te Reo is the language of my country. My ancestors came to this country 200 years ago and shame on me I don't speak the language. Te Reo should be compulsory and every NZer should be bilingual

Ruth

Growing up my culture wasn't celebrated or appreciated, so now that I'm older I have the responsibility of teaching, and educating myself on the things I missed out on. I'm trying to take it back to my roots and understand who I am and where I come from. Te Reo Māori is a beautiful language and it deserves to be spoken loud and proud.