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'

Na te mea, ka korero Maori ahau i nga wa katoa. I ako ahau i te Reo Maori. He pai te Reo Maori

Tamara

As a primary School teacher many tamariki come without knowing their whakapapa or identity. Its important that everyone knows who they are and where they come from. I take great pride in helping tamariki discover their identity and from this basis grow, language helps us in that growth.

Mark

I think it's important to learn te reo Maori so our language doesn't die and so it gets stronger. I like learning te reo because to me, it's easier than learning English. I wanted to learn te reo because I'm Maori and it's important for us to learn our language.

rangiiria

He pai te kura. He pai rawa atu te korero Maori. He pa te takaro kemu Maori me aku hoa.

Bomn

My "why" is a "why not?" contribute to the korero. Te Reo is our first language in Aotearoa and should be treated as a taonga and as an essential part of everyday life so that Te Tiriti can be fully implemented in the language it was written in. He kākano puipuiaki i Te Reo. The language is a precious seed.

Ngarie

Maori Sign Concepts Development, Toku Pepeha - 2021

Richard

As a New Zealander I need to be comfortable with all of the cultures that make up our country, especially the tangata whenua. I also have young mokopuna who speak Te Reo and its a great way for me to connect with them.

peter

Ko te reo Maori he taonga i tuku iho mai o tatou tupuna. Kaore e matou kia wareware tenei taonga. He mea tino nui ma tatou ki te hapai te reo maori, whakapakari te reo me ona tikanga.

Nikora

Ko te reo maori toku reo rangatira

hoani

Ka tautoko au i te kaupapa, tohaina i to tātau reo. . . . .

Stacey

Its something I should have done a long time ago, now my adult children are pretty good with the language and the better they get with the language, the more they know about part of their culture and I need to catch up.

Hugh

Maori Sign Concepts Development. Learning te reo Rotatota.

Richard

Maori culture is special and unique to Aotearoa and should be pioneered to be uphelp and promoted. In modern society we face many challenges personally and as a whole. We can learn valuable insights from Maori culture to apply to our daily lives.

Jack

To help all the different people in NZ unite under a Te Reo umbrella. Irrespective of language or culture, we can all connect on mutual ground in Te Reo.

Corli

It is very important to learn Te reo Maori as it enrichens our enviroment and connects us to keeping the reo alive and thriving , for generations to come we need to preserve the reo and share it with all that reside here in Aotearoa .

YOUR PLACE- To wahi

Normalisation! Ka kōrerohia au i te reo. Ka akongia au i te reo me te ao. Ka waiatatia au i te reo.

Lyn

I want more Kiwis to understand the Māori worldview, so it can play a bigger part in shaping our country. Karawhuia!

Alice

NZSL week 2021. This morning was a very special time for Deaf Aotearoa and the Deaf Community. We had a blessing and unveiled a beautiful carving done for us by the Master carver John Rua. We are truly honoured to have such a significant piece carved by a Deaf master carver for our Deaf organisation! Thank you John Rua. Thank you Richard Tuhorouta Peri for your leadership and work to make this morning come together. Thank you to all who joined us this morning. right-Whiti Ronaki, John Rua, Lachlan Keating and Richard Peri

Richard

My drive is that I don't want my mokopuna to live in a world where they don't feel part of it. I want to be able to share with my moko our culture and our language and to do that I have to immerse myself in kaupapa such as this one so that I have the confidence to learn these things to be able to share it confidently with the next generation.

Cora

I believe its important that we all contribute towards keeping Maori language part of daily life for all of Aotearoa, it's a beautiful language that we should be proud of and we need to protect it and nurture it.

Heidi

Wishing to support any movement to keep the Maori language alive as a dynamic source of cultural identity.

Andrea

Awhi ngā wāhine māori me onā whānau ki te korero māori, ki te ako I tona pepeha, ki te ako ngā karakia.

Tania

I feel our nation should be a bilingual / bicultural nation and we are far from it. It drives me to take part as this is part of the movement. One day we will get there and this is one of many ways to be heard.

Simon

I love to learn new language and its the culture

Etha

Whakamanawatia tāku son son.

Rose

Whakamanawatia tāku son son.

Rose

Ka ako ahau Te Reo. Ko te Reo te reo tuatahi ki Aotearoa. Ko Te Reo ka kawe ia te hā hoki iho o Te Ao Maōri. Kāore Māori. Kāore Māori toto. Ko Tararā ahau. Tata. Ngā mihi

David

To support the stanability of Te Reo Maori me Tikanga maori

Myrtle

Ahakoa he kura aoraki mātou, ka whai tonu mātou ki te hāpaitia ngā tikanga me ōna reo rangatira i tuku iho. I te timatanga o ia rā, ka karakia ia akomanga, me tuku mihimihi, me waiata. I mua i ia wā kai, ka karakia hoki mātou. Ko ta matou pirangi ki te hono ki tēnei haerenga - mau tonu ki te tino ahurea o Aotearoa, hei whakamana ia tamaiti Māori, ia whānau Māori, ki te tohaina te tirohanga Māori ki ngā tini hapori. I te wā tonu nei, kei te rāhui-a-kainga mātou - hei zui o mātou akomanga ki te kitea i a mātou - ko te mea whakahirahira - te haumaru o o mātou whānau, manaakitia o mātou katoa. Even though we are a mainstream school with a reo-rua - all of our kaiako and classes absolutely support tikanga and Te Reo Māori - we're joining the Reo Movement because it's another way to uplift te reo me ona tikanga - that which we follow on the daily. At the moment up here in Tamaki we are still in lockdown - seeing each other via zui - still starting our daily meets with karakia - it's about giving mana to our Māori tamariki and whānau -to help repatriate and rematriate - to help grow their pride in their taha Māori - and in doing so sharing our amazing world view with all of our whānau and communities. Mauri ora te reo, mauri ora te tikanga, mauri ora ki a tātou katoa! ! ! !

Philomena

He whakapapa, He aroha, He rangatiratanga. Ko au te tauira i tuku mai i aku tupuna ki o raatau mohiotanga. It is important for the next generation to be connected to their land/whenua so they know to take care of the earth that helps nourish and feeds them, to take care of our water to preserve marine life so that those species do not go extinct. To take care of our elderly as they have lived through history of change. To take care of our hinengaro our mental wellbeing keeping our thoughts positive and uplifting. To read so they become knowledgeable about different kaupapa that is happening in our country and others. To seek understanding so that we can support each other in manaakitanga.

Moana

To support this kaupapa

Gannin

To develop and learn to become a more fluent TeReo Māori speaker 2 hours a day

Reina

For our reo to be normalised, practiced and spoken for our tamariki mokopuna for many years to come.

Rachel

Kia ora - as a Pākehā New Zealander, my why in learning Te Reo is to acknowledge my role as a treaty partner, respecting the role of mana whenua. Also as a kaitiaki for my mokopuna, who's whakapapa connects them to iwi and hapu of Te Tairāwhiti.

Tim

Keeping te reo strong is important to me and my whānau, to celebrate and connect to our heritage. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Lenore

We are all from our own unique cultures and highly value cultural diversity. We recognise language as integral to a culture and fear the loss of a language is a huge loss of culture too, which leads to people feeling lost with their identity. We can learn so much from each other when we take time to learn and understand different cultures. Māori culture is unique to New Zealand and shapes the identity of all New Zealanders. We are very proud of this and don't want to see it diminished through loss of language.

Catrin

Bernie

He kupu tuku iho ki tēnei reanga, whakarongo…

Wayne

"Amohia ake te ora, ka puta ki te whei Ao. To protect the wellbeing is paramount ". He tongikura , na Tuheitia Potatau te Wherowhero V11. Ma too taatou reo rangatira ka ora ai. Tau ha!

Sophie

I want to be part of the change and be a driver of change, doing my part. To show our tamariki and next generation/s that te reo Maori is part of their identity and birth right. This will give us that platform to share our taonga with others.

Metiria

Passionate to learn te reo Māori with a great team of people

Vikki

We would like to be a part of the moment to celebrate the Maori language week and would like to contribute to the learnings.

Amrita

Hohepa

Too much of this beautiful reo has been lost and I want to encourage my fellow pākehā to be part of the generation that finally takes part in lifting it back up. We are blessed to be here and have so much of te ao Māori shared with us x

Billie

To further develop the meaning of being a kiwi

Avi

As kaiako to our early childhood tamariki, we feel it is important for all of them to see, hear and be a part of te Āo Māori. We are a part of this journey daily and for us next week will be about tamariki and kaiako learning some new skills and extending on our current. We are committed to our Bicultural practice and strive to challenge ourselves and our way of being, to improve all of the time.

Rachael

I want to expand my knowledge of te reo Māori alongside my daughter who is learning beautiful waiata at school. We are currently learning all of our colours in te reo.

Kerryanne

Ali

Onehunga Primary School Pepeha https://docs. google. com/drawings/d/1uAhfB3ohpJHbpCannRzaQsy6cbkpQc8UF5oB_ZrbvPA/edit?usp=sharing

Brigid

We understand that we can break the record for having our beautiful language celebrated all in a single moment. Our challenge to our tamariki is to take the knowledge they have been surrounded by ever since they started pre-school and spread it around their Bubbles. They are definitely up for it. Ngā whētu ataahua koutou!

Ali

It is important to me because it is who I am. I am a product of my tīpuna and they exist within my tongue. I am not fluent, I am learning. It will never be my job to make another person understand why they should see it as important, that is up to them and them only. However, this is a great opportunity for me to practice my reo and teach what I can, to those who are willing to learn.

Takerei

He taonga tuku iho Te Reo Māori. E ai ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi, me whakahaumaru Te Kawanatanga i ngā taonga o ngā rangatira, nā reira, ko te mahi o ngā kaiako o Aotearoa ki te whakarauora i te reo rangatira. Te Reo Māori is protected as a treasure under the Treaty of Waitangi and it is the work of Crown employees, including teachers, to ensure the health of the language.

Vanessa

Because it is such a beautiful language

Britta

On going learning Te Reo enhances both personal knowledge and development and is important and vital to keep teaching practice relevant and authentic to share, use and learn with our tamariki. Our teaching team use Te Reo daily we have a fluent speake Kaiako who extends and encourages our Te Reo use. We would like our whanau from our kindergarten community to take part this year.

Deb

Māori was made an official language of New Zealand under the Maori Language Act 1987

Tina

Roger

Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria! Te reo is a taonga and a special part of who I am. It's important that it is available for our tamariki and mokopuna.

Anthony

As a migrant, I want to learn more about the Māori culture and history, as I make Aotearoa my home.

Cynthia

To ensure our tamariki have a chance to learn and love te reo Māori.

Mark

Kia tautokotia te kaupapa whai tikanga! Kia haumi tātou. We need to understand that in Aotearoa supporting te reo is as important as protecting the whenua.

Rachael

Its important that I take part, as this is part of my history and to make te reo maori a language that everyone wants to learn. . . It will take so much for us to get to where we need to but this is why we have things like this for us to really expose our language to the world. Te reo Maori to me is being able to connect with my whanau, my ancestors through language that was understood and now we are fighiting for this back.

Anthony

It's important to me and my whanau simply because it is us it also reminds me of what our tupuna fought and died for our rights to be who we are and our identity of where we come from and even today that fight still continues and because of that we have things like Maori TV Kura kaupapa Kohanga Maori entertainers translating their waiata into te reo maori Maori athletes being recognized through maori sports awards Now starting next public holiday in recognition of Matariki Maori rongoa clinic's recognized and implanted within our health system And as maori we continue to grow to better improve the well being of our maori culture and people

Robynne

He reo rangatira, he reo arahi i ngā uri whakatupu. Pupurutia. Kia mau.

Leaara

Ensuring tamariki home languages & cultures are visible in ECE is important for whanau & tamariki learning & development.

Mary

To spread the word, engage people of all backgrounds in the language and culture of Aotearoa and encourage people to take the leap and get involved.

Cerys

I want to help grow the the reo in Aotearoa

William

I dream of living in a community where te reo Māori thrives. Where it is spoken as freely as English. To me, it is one of our greatest taonga and something that enriches the lives of everyone living on this motu. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Mark

I am part of the million that is writing the history of revival of the language of the whenua. I am proud.

Shree

this is my marae te paku o te rangi putiki wharanui i would to love to share this all about kaupapa and tikanga

Haylee

It is my cultural identity and makes me who I am. Kia ora tatou

Topsy

We are an early learning centre, and to incorporate te reo Maori in our everyday practices, is part of our philosophy and our curriculum. By taking part we would like to show our commitment to this as well as acknowledge that te reo is the living language of our peope, of our land, the place we call home now and we will strive to ensure that it flourishes and grows.

Preenika

Continute the development of te reo within our schools so it is not lost.

Miriana

We are a bicultural country and it is the responsibility of every New Zealander to learn te reo maori.

Shamima

To continue our journey as a school that acknowledges our bicultural partnership as detailed in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Marcus

Kia kaha te reo Māori! Kia ora e te whānau!

William

For our Maori tamariki to have success in their learning, to be aware of each others identity, to be aware of the stories in our local area, to keeep the reo alive

Totara North School

Kia ora e hoa ma. Kia kaha te reo Māori

William

Proud to speak Maori. I love te reo and the way New Zealanders are embracing it!

Rebecca

Because this is Te Reo Tūturu o tēnei whenua. We can not go anywhere else in the world to learn Te Reo Māori. It is unique and very special to Aotearoa.

Rebecca

Kua whakahokia taku reo ki au me kōrero au me whakarongo hoki! Kia kaha te korero!

Miriama

I’m so lucky to be able to be made to feel included through experiencing the language like this

Rachel

Kia ora tonu ai tō tātou reo!

Moko

To respect and honour tangata whenua

Sally

It is important to take part to share with our tamariki the importance of culture, identity and ultimately Te Ao Māori and its integral place in Āotearoa.

Shannon

kia kaha te reo Māori! It is important to me to keep our beautiful indigenous language alive for my tamariki and my future mokopuna!

leanne

It’s time

Lydia

Kia ora Ko Maramatanga Davis tooku ingoa Noo te waka Tainui Kei te noho ahau ki Te Puaha o Waikato Noo reira Teenaa koutou katoa

Marama

Naa te reo o te kainga, o ngaa mantua tuupuna te take e ngaakau nui ana ahau ki too taatou reo rangatira.

Marama

As a Pākehā born in Aotearoa, I want to know the true history of our country, including its first language

NIki

Deepen our understanding of this beautiful land, and bond the community together through te reo Māori

Honour

My mokopuna and my love for our language.

Tia

Christine

To ground myself and my babies. To know who we are and where we come from. To continue what our Tipuna have left us.

Mara

On going learning of this beautiful language

Jackie

It takes one generation to lose a language and three to get it back. I am doing it for the protection of te reo Māori - my language and for my tamariki mokopuna so that they know how ataahua their language and all that it entails is.

Tate

Because enough has been lost. It is time to reclaim the language and ensure that it is kept alive.

Mel

To empower myself as Maori. Miria

Miria

Ahakoa he uri tauiwi ahau, he tino whakaute tāku ki te whenua. Me ako ahau ki te hikoi i te korero ---- Although I am of foreign descent, I have been brought up to have deep respect for the land. So I am trying to learn to walk the talk

Anna

My husband and children are Māori and I believe it is important for them to know their language so that they can stand strong in their heritage, I need to be able to help them on their reo journey as well on my own journey as an ECE Kaiako. It is my responsibility as tangata Tiriti to learn and understand not only the language but the culture.

Simone

Tīhei Mauri Ora! Ko Kohukohunui tōku maunga Ko Wairoa tōku awa Ko Maraetai tōku moana Ko Tainui tōku waka Ko Ngāi Tai tōku iwi. Ko Michelle ahau .

Michelle

This post is in moderation. Only you can see this because you are the author.

Tīhei Mauri Ora!

Ko Kohukohunui tōku maunga

Ko Wairoa tōku awa

Ko Maraetai tōku moana

Ko Tainui tōku waka

Ko Ngāi Tai tōku iwi.

Ko Michelle ahau .