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'

I am South African so have to work extra hard to teach Maori. I am learning alongside the children. I saw this as an opportunity to emphasise the bi-culturalism of NZ. I have many students born overseas or speaking another first language so I feel it is important to introduce them to what being a New Zealander means.

Shelley

My why is my whānau, my whakapapa and the generations to come. Our reo is precious it inspires me to do so much more, it can inspire others of all cultures.

Sharlene

Te Reo is such a beautiful language and I feel that learning even a little more each year can only be beneficial to me and my family.

Sara

I am in Australia but still call Aotearoa my home I had started on the journey with te reo and now have decided to reconnect and continue.

Sam

At 5 years old my family were placed in Aōtearoa as refugees from Iran. Not being able to speak in my native tongue instilled a deep empathy in me toward what Māori have had to endure on their own land. Te Reo Māori feels like a glimmer of hope that speaking a language other than English would one day be acceptable to the ears of a society so far colonised that we even have to have discussions about this. Kia Kaha te Reo Māori ! ! Xxx

Roxie

It is important for us to take part because Te Reo is an official language of New Zealand and it is important that our students learn how to speak it and normalise it in everyday conversation.

Ronal

Ko te reo te Puutaketanga o te Ao Maaori, koinaa te take e perangi ana teenei ki te tautoko te kaupapa nei.

Rochelle

The resurgence of Te Reo Māori is awesome. I have always been proud of my Māori heritage, but learning te reo Maori, and understanding the respect, and honour which is built into our culture is beautiful. Misconceptions fall away. . . for exa, ple, people’s view that the term “pakeha” was a derogatory term, when it was actually “pakehakeha”, like “mythical people” is the complete opposite of derogatory, and it demonstrates that our ancestors did not look down on the early pakeha with scorn. . . history is rewritten. Challenging historical misconceptions, and rewriting our history is important, that’s why we should all take part.

Rob

I want to be able to speak my language fluently and with confidence, and for the reo to become widespread across New Zealand.

Reuben

This is my culture. I need to do better for the future generations. For my tamariki and mokopuna!

Pernille

I want to take part to support a culture which I love (not my own) but that of my son and his whanau. I will also be proud to include my work place and get my colleagues involved!

Patrick

My mother and father didn't know Te Reo until their adulthood, while their children had it since they were born. While I have the freedom to speak, they didn't have the same opportunity. I am doing this for them, to show them that I am thankful for the privilege they have given me.

Parawai

He taonga te reo Māori, me rere tō tatou reo rangatira!

Pania

our language is our culture

Pam

For my tamariki to become more versed in the reo.

Nikki

Following my heart

Nigel

It is nz culture and it’s nice and important to me with my wife being Māori and im a foreigner from Asian country so it’s really good for me to learn and respect and honour this language of nz. Kia Ora

Nawa

I just love learning about New Zealand's history and what it's like to be a Maori. I honestly just love the land of Aoteroa.

Natasha

Mō āku tamariki

Mitchell

Personal growth learning te reo maori

Missy

A belief that te reo is one of NZ's taonga.

Miranda

I am part Maori (Te Rarawa decent) and have been learning Te Reo over the past 2 years so I can be more confident in using it in my classes with my tamariki and also for my own personal growth as Maori. Our school is on a journey of embedding Tikanga Maori and Te Reo Maori in our school practices and being involved this week in celebrating our language is becoming a natural and very important thing to do as a school. This week is an opportunity to remind ourselves how importan and unique the Maori Language is and it's an opportunity to revisit the principals of the Treaty of Waitangi and to discuss with my tamariki why they learn the Maori language in our schools and in schools throughout Aotearoa.

Michelle

Kia kaha te reo Māori! Celebrating Māori language Moment

Michele

To learn, understand and respect tikanga Maori

Michael

It's important for te reo Māori to flourish as it's unique to Aotearoa. Language is about connections and it's more important than ever to be connected. We must continue to protect, encourage, promote and use te reo Māori every day and ensure it's still strong for our children.

Maylene

identity

mary

To be part of what a New Zealander is.

Marie

To speak Maori

Kristin

To actively promote maori language use

Manpreet

love learning more about the language and culture

Mani

Because I am Maori and i want to learn about my culture.

Mana

So I can be more in touch with the native language.

Lydia

Te Reo Māori has been a significant part of my life and it has given me a lot of purpose and direction with my life path and my identity. My journey of Te Reo Māori began throughout my College years then continued on at Victoria University/Te Herenga Waka. Now, nearly 4 years into my education career as a Primary School Teacher, I am sharing my passion of Te Reo Māori with the next generation. It makes me so happy when my students show passion and interest during our Te Reo Māori lessons and when they go out of their way to engage with everyday Te Reo Māori - even coming up to me and saying 'kei te ngenge au! ' I had a conversation with my class the other day and they came to the conclusion Te Reo Māori is a taonga that we must treasure and 'keep safe'. I feel proud to do my part in the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori through education and will continue this passion and dedication of Te Reo Māori throughout all aspects of my life. It makes me smile thinking that when my own children grow up, they will be in a society where Te Reo Māori is even more cherished and appreciated than ever. Arohatia Te Reo!

Lizzy

Because I believe Te Reo should be part of our everyday lives. It is a beautiful language that we should all know and be proud of!

Liz

I am new to Aotearoa New Zealand and te reo Maori is a unique and wonderful part of the fabric of the land and people. I am glad it has not be quashed by colonialism and is being celebrated.

Liz

I'm of Cook Island decent born n breed in NZ, I attended Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Maori with my son back in the 90's and worked for Te Wananga o Aotearoa in childcare. I now reside in Melbourne Australia, been here for 15 years and have 3 beautiful grand daughters who are Australian and Cook Island Maori and were born here in Melbourne and now reside in Tauranga NZ. I would love to reconnect with the language and hopefully one day speak Maori with my grandchildren.

Linda

I’m on a personal journey moving from Te Po to Te Ao. Learning te reo Māori again

Les

Education and understanding. Giving my whanau the Korean I missed out on

Leon

so that i can learn how to speak maori and understand maori and yea thats all i can think off

Kyra

Supporting my Maori friends retain their culture.

Kerry

Te reo is our national language important to integrate te reo into the curriculum daily where possible. Celebrating te reo is a way of keeping the language alive, and recognising our unique Aotearoa heritage.

Kathryn

To stay true to who I am as Maori & be encouraged to speak what Te Reo I do know.

Karen

The uniqueness of te reo Māori is a taonga

karen

Because I feel as though, I’m missing a part of Who I am as a person. This will help me be proud of who I am, and where I come from. Be proud of my roots.

Justine

Te reo Maori is one of our official languages. It stands to reason that we all make a real effort to become familiar with and use the languages we are not so confident with.

Judy

acknowledge, celebrate, identify

Juanita

It has been one regret I have in life is not learning te reo, not just at home but being so far away in the UK it’s been even harder to learn when You don’t have the confidence but also being isolated out in the sticks so Video calling has been my saviour! I’ve joined up to learn te reo so now I’m on it with some great friends & whānau here, so I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to be able to learn on paper & online! I still can’t believe all the resources that we have available. My confidence will grow in time & I just glad I’ve started and hope that one day very soon I will be home to learn on my Marae, that this my ultimate goal!

Juanita

As I am doing a Te Reo course at work I would like to improve and extend my knowledge of the Maori language as well as understanding Maori Matauranga.

Jo

As a Māori I strongly believe that our culture and language deserves more respect and acknowledgement that it has been given. And I want to be one of the people who can become fluent enough and confident enough to go out and teach te reo to our younger generations.

Jewel

Personally I think learning Te Reo Māori and the Tikanga connects us back to Papatuanuku, reminds us about what it really means to be not only Māori, but to be a human being - to take our minds away from the material world we have become so immersed in, and to appreciate the people and the earth in which surrounds us and REALLY actually matter in our lives (that was quite deep 😂)

Jess

Although I am Pakeha I feel a strong connection to all things Maori and I love sharing this beautiful taonga with the pepi in my care in our ECE centre.

Jenny

Ko matou enei!

Jane

Te Reo Māori is important to me because it connects me with my tūpuna, my whakapapa, my whenua. I am more grounded in myself when I embrace Te Ao Māori. It is also important to me because I believe everyone should embrace the beauty of our reo, whether you're Māori or not. So the more I ako the more I can share, and the ako keeps moving. I want my tamariki to grow up in an Āotearoa where Te Reo Māori is a part of their daily life and I have hope that with the way we are moving it will be so. Mauri ora! !

Jane

Its future

Jane

In 2017 I went to the Waitangi Day celebrations at Otakou Marae. Judging from how much everyone else was laughing the speeches were very funny. Feeling left out of the merriment sparked a determination to learn te reo well enough to understand the jokes next time!

Sarah-Jane

To strengthen te reo Maaori in Aotearoa

James

i have lived in australia for to long i have forgotten maori tanga whaikorero

jade

He taonga te reo rangatira - tiakina, kōrerohia te reo kia ora ai

Jackie

To communicate with others for example learn sign language.

Irenee

Taking part during the natives is important since this is actually their land so we should respect and celebrate their language!

Igor

Because our language is going away and I want to do my part in keeping it around for my kids to learn

Honey

To keep our language strong

Hoia

Ko tāku, kia parakatihi I tōku nei Reo Maori. Kua kimi ano ahau I te Aroha mo tōku nei maoritanga

Hoani

Kia tautoko te kaupapa o te wiki o te reo Māori. . hei whakanui hoki te reo Rangatira!

Kristin

Speaking Te reo Maori is important for all Kiwis

Gael

Important to learn the native language of the land and I believe language is culture.

Francis

Because I'm a proud New Zealander and te reo Maori is part of this countries heritage.

I believe that it is incumbent on us all and especially immigrants like myself to be respectful and to learn as much as we can about the culture of the Tangata Whenua and Te Reo is essential to this understanding.

Fiona

Connection

Evelyn

Because people should know the language of the land or at least acknowledge it

Ethan

It is a very special event. I want to learn more about Maori culture and language. Most of my friends and classmates are also Maori, so through this event, could develop stronger communications with them.

Ethan

Our Reo is a taonga, and I'm determined to pass it on to my tamariki - already my kotiro speaks and understands more than I did at her age! It's been a long journey of reclaiming Te Reo in our whanau, and we still have a long way to go. Our language deserves to be celebrated and normalised, and our people need easy access to the resources to learn and grow in confidence in the Reo of our tupuna.

Erana

I love singing and tu tiri mai nga iwi is my favorite song

Elspeth

Respect and appreciation of my Māori ancestry and culture.

Donna

Awesome to appreciate our national language and ensure it remains an important part of our culture and society as a country.

Delena

Because it is what makes New Zealand , New Zealand. . . it is part of who we are!

Deborah

Because I want everyone to feel brave and confident about speaking te red Maori in my family.

David

It is important to recognize that Te Reo Māori is an amazing and beautiful part of our culture, to learn and to speak. I aim to take Reo lessons and enhance my reo further.

Cree

I have migrated to Aotearoa 27 years ago and I hardly know anything about Te Reo so I thought it is time to try learning the language of the land and connect with indigenous culture.

Cihat

I want to know my ancestors and there native tongue.

Chris

Even though I am not Maori and parents are immigrants, we all live in New Zealand and Maori should be embraced every week!

Catherine

My 7month old daughter is Māori and i would like to support and uplift her journey in Te Reo Māori

Catherine

Because who said our language wasn’t as important as any other language? nobody! so why did our language get stripped (forgotten/lost) from us?! It is important to me because I am Māori & me & every other Māori deserve to know our natural tongue. It is who we are, it runs through our blood, our bones, our wairua & me being Māori knowing, seeing & meeting people from different backgrounds speaking their natural tongue & not knowing my own & then them saying “do any of you guys know how to speak Māori?” sucks haha I also have a 3yo son & we live in Australia so I would absolutely love for him to also know who he is & where he comes from so he is a very big motivation for me aswell in learning our language. It’s time to start embracing who are as Māori, the people of Aotearoa.

Cathaleen

It's my language and culture and have been wanting to learn for a long time now. So no better time than now.

Carmel

Would like to learn more about Maori culture

Billy

As a relatively new kiwi (I immigrated six years ago), I want to understand everything about Aotearoa. Language plays a huge part in that, and I'd like to be able to speak all languages of the country one day.

Bianca

I originally belong to India and practice Sikh religion. Literal meaning of Sikh means, to learn. To keep learning. Even though I am here in NZ from 2002 and consider myself as mainstream Kiwi, but, I firmly believe that I cannot and will never be able to relate myself as a real 'kiwi' till I immerse in rich and beautiful Maori culture. And, the secret lies in learning Te Reo. Hence, I am making a head-start now.

Bhupinder

Its important to know the language because I design website in New Zealand and it should benefit Te reo readers.

Beula

I'm a school teacher and am celebrating with my class.

Barnaby

Te reo Māori connects me to my tīpuna, I wish I had been taught te reo from them. I wish I could speak fluently and confidently. I am gaining the confidence to speak what little I do know, as initiatives like this contribute and facilitate pride for being Māori

Awhina

To communicate with Maori people.

Atlas

I would like to be part of keeping te reo Maori alive. Just as when we migrate to other countries/regions it is important to learn the language of that country/region. As a Samoan growing up in Aotearoa, it is important for me to be able to speak te reo Maori.

Maria

Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Angie

To learn te reo Maori for my mokopuna

Angelina

I feel in myself that I am missing out. I was working in Auckland for a couple of months I was amongst Indian, Tongans, and Samoans. Everyday they would be having conversations with each other and when it came to myself and another workmate all we could say was 'Kia ora or Ka kite' pretty embarrassed with myself. So here I am wanting to know more, also I have a 3 yr old nephew that schools me everyday and I at least want to be able to do sentences with him.

Angela

Ko Te Reo Māori te reo tuturu o Aotearoa! We should all be speaking it and making it a priority.

Andrea

I want to be a part of this massive , beautiful, ancient culture, that is all about family, love and welcoming everyone.

Alwin

To celebrate and honour culture, language and diversity. To keep Te reo Maori alive.

Ali

It is important because of my Māori Whakapapa and I know my ancestors who have lived and passed before me need me to be their voice, through consistent learning, speaking te reo as much as possible & teach our own tamariki te reo Māori. I know in my heart, our ancestors would appreciate it and would want me to try and give te reo ago, every day and week for as long as I live.

Zania

Kia kaha te reo Maaori

Yt