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'

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

I have many mokopuna and mokomoko who have gone through kohanga reo me kura. I want to ensure they korero maori i nga wa katoa then their future generations will too

Bernadette

Its important for everyone to learn Te Reo Māori as this is our native language of New Zealand.

Kristin

Because I am on a journey discovering my Maori ancestry. Because I have been blessed in the journey of discoveries, as one stone after another is turned, and I have met whanau I didn't know I had, who have helped me learn about te ao Maori. Who have honoured my desire to discover my story in the stories of my tupuna. HOKIANGA Te Puna o Te Ao Marama The Wellspring of the World of Light The hills cast green shadows. Where the sun hits rounds and hollows are defined in full clarity. Like the face of love is familiar, cherished in kin we recognise. Yet the hills cast long shadows green crevices, carved valleys of shade, hidden mysteries without language, shape or form to fill our vision. We look into the dark and are swallowed by immensity, the questions hanging bare unanswered. Instead we learn contentment with the gist of all we know. And the things without language or form, are like the mist that hovers, or the soft rain that settles upon shoulders, as the feathers of a cloak. We do not know we carry, nor what beckons. But from the shadows, something remote resembles us, and looks out to where we stand backlit by the light, and we are known then by all we do not know. And the hills stand as pillars reaching up where we in their midst are encompassed in their house. Though the language and the memories, are not voiced aloud we hesitant guests at the door stand welcome. Ana Lisa de Jong

Ana Lisa

I am a Maori wahine brought up in an environment where te reo Maori and Tikanga Maori was scarce and I want to become fluent in te reo & tikanga Maori. If it was taught/learned/spoken everyday in schools, households and, communities it would make te reo Maori common, fun and easier to learn.

Moneece

It's important to me as I want te reo Maori to be a normal part of kiwi (New Zealanders) life. Where we all can speak fluently and embrace our national culture.

kazz

As a future teacher, I will influence so many young lives and I want to be able to do it for the better. Including tikanga Māori into my teaching is one way I can achieve this.

Tom

To keep our maori culture alive and so we are well connected to it. it’s important that else embrace where we are from and our history.

desharna

There was once so much stigma and negativity towards speaking and learning te reo, now that i am on the journey of learning (and loving it) i want to encourage others and show them how fun and interesting it is to learn the language. While also adhering to the 3 principles of te tiriti, participation, protection and partnership.

Kayleigh

Keep our language alive and thriving. Embracing Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori is important for our past, our present and our future generations. . . karawhiua koutou! !

Alamein

I don’t want my Maori family’s reo to die out because of white entitlement, and supremacy in New Zealand. It’ll start with our Maori brothers and sister, but what makes others think they’ll stop just with just Maori? Will they move onto our other Pacific Islander brothers and sister? My family culture and my family’s reo is important enough to fight for.

Lalagofaatasi

Really want to start learning Te reo as i am kiwi born.

Mark

Because it is my culture

Georgia

E maha ng1a whakaaro māku, engari ko tētahi o ngā mea tino. . . ngā te take e whawhai kaha ana rātou, ā kui mā koro mā i taua wā kia ora ai tō tātou reo.

Margie

It is part of our country's identity and we need to make up fpr the years where people weren't allowed to speak or live Maori.

Deborah
Salita

Honouring and respecting what is essentially New Zealand culture keeps it alive And encourages new learners. I’m a big fan of second language learning and love how it’s awesome to learn new words.

Angela

Keeping te reo alive and thriving.

Sally

Because of my heritage

Crosby

Not being Maori myself, but living in New Zealand it is important to me

Taylor

the University of Auckland is strongly committed to te reo Māori encouraging all staff to learn and use te reo in our everyday work here is our link to our staff development resource. https://www. auckland. ac. nz/en/on-campus/life-on-campus/maori-life-on-campus/revitalising-te-reo-maori. html. https://cdn. auckland. ac. nz/assets/auckland/on-campus/life-on-campus/maori-life/revitalising-te-reo-maori/university-of-auckland-te-reo-plan. pdf

Judy

I love Māori language and culture, but also believe as a kiwi I should be able to read and speak te reo confidently. It is an important part of our being, whakapapa and the history of Aotearoa. As a conservationist, I respect tikanga Māori in that there are multiple practices and understandings of nature, science, our connection with it and its importance to us.

amber

I am currently doing a te reo course through AUT to better my knowledge and understanding. I am committed to te tiriti and know the importance of language being strongly linked to identity and culture. I am a teacher in training and want to be able to support all the children in my care with there cultural identity and empower them to learn te reo.

Christina

To encourage my children to use and love our beautiful reo

Henry

It is a part of me, my being and my spirit. I have already denied myself the knowledge of knowing more by not speaking it fluently. To only know the basics is better than knowing nothing. I am keen to learn more and also help others like me. Carry on the mahi from our Tipuna's. We owe it to them and ourselves to keep the legacy they left us ALIVE! Nga mihi aroha kia koutou katoa

Te Haiata

I want to learn how to korero in te reo and know how to speak it so I can talk on the paepae and for my kids

Pita

Taking part encourages me to keep going, to keep using Te Reo.

Margaret

As a teacher, te reo is at the core of what makes New Zealand unique, what gives it its identity. We have the responsibility to uphold it, to take care of it, nurture it and grow it.

Rachel

For my daughter who uplifts and encourages everyone to speak te reo when they can and at their pace

Colin

My whānau x x x especially my tamariki.

Joanna

To spread and grow te reo

Myra

It's important all New Zealanders understand the importance of our indigenous language and embrace learning at least a little te reo. By taking part I want to encourage others to embrace te reo too.

Juliet

To strengthen and build my connetcion to my culture

pippa

To support my mum in her Te Reo journey.

Ahere

Ka ako ana oku tamahine kei raro i te kaupapa o te kohanga reo. It is only fitting that I make an effort also.

Kelsi

Because I am Maori and the language is important to me

Arwen

Ko te reo Māori te reo tuatahi o Aotearoa!

Val

Its so important we keep Maori Language alive. We will all be richer for it. Kia ora

Cassandra

Cause it's sad that te reo is a dying language we need to keep it alive

Shannon

Know the roots of a country

ginette

My Grandad was Māori I sadly never got the chance to know him or much about where I come from on that side of the family, but I'm still eager to learn all.

Amber

Because te reo is unique to Aotearoa and such an important insight into te ao Māori.

Dale

A language is an element through which a culture expresses itself, therefore keeping a language alive is essential to keep a culture alive. As a bilingual person and an immigrant in Aotearoa I understand how a language is a key element to understand how other people think, act and view the world. Learning te reo māori is a way for me to connect more deeply to the culture and the citizens of this country. It's a way to be better integrated and to expand the ways I see the world.

Daniele

Because its part of Aotearoa

Maree

I want to support my culture in any and every way

Terangi

It is important to celebrate Te Reo which is an integral part of being a New Zealander. I feel strongly about this as I have moved to New Zealand as an adult and enjoyed immersing myself in a new culture and growing to love a place that I now call home.

Gretchen

As I get to an age where mokopuna will be a part of our lives I want more knowledge and confidence in our original language and tikanga for both them and myself.

Heidi

To keep embracing and encouraging the use of Maori anguage and Maoriculture especially for Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori language week.

Jordan

It's about putting myself out there, outside my comfort zone. I want to grow in my Te Reo skill but lack confidence because at the mo', I'm not very good at it - this is an awesome opportunity to step out, for better or worse, as I will be joining many others that are giving it a go. Karawhiua!

Nathan

He mea nui ki a au te whai wāhi atu ki te kaupapa nei hei whakatairanga i tō tātou reo kāmehameha.

Te Akauroa

He puna wai, He puna kai, He puna reo, He puna ora, Ita-a-ita! Like food and water is sustenance for the body, language is sustenance for your culture, without it, the culture would die.

Caitlin

Because its my language and I'm committed to becoming confident and capable.

Serena

I think its imporant to me as I come from maori descent

Harrison

Respect for our indigenous culture. Unique and precious to this beautiful country.

Catherine

To continue the legacy that our tupuna have left for us. To share knowledge and foster Maaori visibility and capabilities at my workplace.

Aleise