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'

Normalising chatting in te reo Maori daily draws us together as New Zealanders

Susan

I come from India which is a land of many languages. I grew up in a multicultural household and I understood early in life that to truly understand and assimilate a culture and a way of life, learning that language is a vital first step. A language is not only a means of communication but also a means of exchanging values, beliefs, customs and most important expressing mutual respect. While I have made an effort to incorporate Te Reo in my day to day life, I want to make a conscious and directed effort at learning and integrating Te Reo in my life so that I can be a part of Aotearoa and Aotearoa can be a part of me in a more holistic, deep level.

Sunaina

It’s time to recognise the privilege I have with speaking my reo. . Giving it more attention, reminding myself words, whakataki, kiwaha and brush off the rust.

I am a fourth generation Indian South African and my language heritage has suffered such that my children are unable to converse in our mother tongue. The same should not be allowed to happen to this unique language. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Sukie

I'm continually improving my reo, so want to commit to that.

Sue

I am an immigrant - I want to increase my sense of belonging to my new homeland.

Stuart

Because if we do not celebrate what makes us unique, we lose sight of how large the world is, the different needs of all cultures, and how much care of each other we have to take

Steven

I feel that the language and culture of Maori is so important to the DNA of Aotearoa. It's one of the things that makes New Zealand special and I'd like to see the language thrive for generations to come.

Stephen

I am a citizen of a country defined by Te tiriti the country is a tale of two peoples - maori and pakeha - and should obviously be bi-lingual.

Stephen

It is part of being a Kiwi

Stephanie

because i think it is important not to lose the te reo language. and important for the future so my tamariki grow up being confident in speaking te reo

Stephanie

A native speaker of English who struggles to learn any other language. Sign, Te Reo, Mandarin, it doesn't matter I am linguistically challenged. But I keep trying. Luckily I sing and play the guitar. Amazingly I can sing in any language. There is nothing more beautiful than to hear Te Reo being spoken when I'm out and about not just in formal situations. I'm envious.

Stephanie

unique culture

stefan

It's my whakapapa!

Jayden

I am a Australian married to a maori man with 3 maori children. I think it is important for my children to learn their culture.

Stacey

Te Reo Maori is a precious NZ taonga and it is a joy to protect, speak and tautoku. Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria!

Sophie

As part of our work in kindergarten it is important for us to promote te reo Maori and other bicultural activities

Sonya

Maori is an official language of Aotearoa and I am ignorant.

Sonya

As an immigrant I had to find new roots in beautiful Aotearoa and learning to speak Māori is a way to connect to the people and culture of my new home country in a more meaningful way.

Sonja

As a Pākehā with a longstanding personal and professional commitment to social justice I believe it is important that I 'walk the walk' where biculturalism in Aotearoa is concerned.

Sonja

In due time, my commitment to a New Zealander partner will become a commitment to his country. Learning and using te reo māori is my way of requesting permission to become one in a million now, and one of the team of five million in the future.

Sonia

Being welsh language is such an important part of your identity and the history of a country. As i have been living in NZ for 12 years it is a long but important part of my journey.

Sonia

because my whole school is doing it, because i like to participate and because it is fun!

Sofia

He taonga tuku iho te reo nē! Anō, ka hiahia whakaute au ki ōku tipuna.

Siobhan

I’m a kiwi, I believe te reo Maori is an important part of that. I’d like to be able to understand & speak more then I do at the moment.

Siobaun

I believe it is essential that we truly become bilingual in Aotearoa I believe this honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Sue

To acknowledge the differences we have but to reiterate we are one, homo sapiens. Lets stay united.

sindhu

I feel as a nation we have become far better embracing and sharing in Maori culture and giving people confidence to give Te Reo Moari a go - as a leader I want to keep encouraging this, Maori culture and language is a very unique part of Aotearoa New Zealand's identity

Simon

I like this idea. Te reo is a national treasure and should be promoted. I want to learn more.

Simon

I think te reo maori is an important part of our culture that we must preserve.

Simon

He taonga te reo i tuku iho mai i nga matua tupuna. He hononga ki a ratou ma me o ratou ake mohiotanga, maramatanga o te Ao. Na, kei roto ko te rongoaa mo tatou nga waihotanga e kimi haere ana i te oranga mo tatou ano. xox

sienna

To embrace our kiwi culture and take part in something big.

Shonny

l am of the generation where my parents and grandparents spoke te reo in our home all the time and was punished at school for speaking it so my korero isn't as good as I would like and I strive everyday to improve.

Shona

To celebrate what it us to be a New Zealander.

Shirley

I feel the older I get its something I think alot about and wish I could understand the language more

Shirley

Being Maori

Shirley

Its important to keep our reo alive and to share and learn our knowledge

Shirlee

We're in Aotearoa New Zealand and it's important we try and learn the language as otherwise it might struggle into the future and it's a mark of respect for the land we stand on. It's one of the official languages so we should try and learn it.

Shirin

This is my country; this is our reo that we celebrate.

Sheryl

It is important to value all things Maori and to encourage non Maori to participate and gain knowledge and understanding

Sheryl

We want to embrace and take part of this wonderful historical event. To endorse and support Reo Māori for and with each other. Kia tū tatou, kia mahia, kia kaha ki te kōrero!

Sherrilee

Because I should I am a Maori.

Sherrene

He Māori ahau. Because I am Māori.

Sherie

Growing up in a predominantly paheka farming community, I didnt know who I was or who I connected with. I was not white enough, but I also wasnt brown enough and it has made me feel embarrassed about having no identity. My Maori father spoke no Maori, my Pakeha mother had no clue either. My Koro didnt teach us as he stuttered and I think too, he was traumatized by what had happened to him as a child when he spoke Maori. So now, I am 31, have 2 children I look at them and I know I want them to know more about our language and culture and it starts with ME. I have never appreciated our culture or language before, but I now see its beauty and I am being called to step up and learn.

Sheree

because its been a long time coming.

Sheree

Maori is a beautiful language. I think it's important to further my own learning and knowledge while teaching my children and hoping they will learn and know more than me.

Shelley

All NZers should be bilingual,

Shelley

The team at Health Hawke's Bay feel it is important to celebrate the beautiful language that is Māori.

Sheldon

To be able to understand what is being said and to learn how to say words correctly

Sheila

To revitalize our reo Rangatira for our people and the next generation

Shayna

I would like to learn more about my culture and language. I think Te Reo is an important part of our country's culture and heritage and I think it should be embraced.

Shawnee

A beautiful langauage and culture that is part of our country and we do not want to loose! ka mau te wehi!

Sharon

I think it is vitally important te reo stays a living, active language in NZ

Sharon

To be a good Tiriti partner

Sharon

I am Maaori and citizen of NZ. I have been learning Te Reo for many years and want it to be around me more so that I can practise and use it every day in different settings. I am the school director, a teacher, a mother etc etc, therefore a role model.

Sharon

Link to live today. https://www. facebook. com/radiotainui/videos/381265333270314/

Sharon

As a school we want to support our tamariki, whanau & local iwi in reviving Te Reo Maori and helping our whanau to thrive through the language and stories of our people. We honour the battle and sacrifices our tupuna have made for us to continue speaking and breathing Te Ao Maori.

Sharise

te reo Māori is a beautiful language, and I hope it makes a massive resurgence in my lifetime

Shannon

It's a significant part of New Zealand's culture.

Shannen

I started my Reo journey at the beginning of this year. When Covid hit, studies became online only which was a new way for me to learn. Now with mahi being busy my studies have been put on hold. So taking part in this event will keep me immersed in the Reo

Shane

Kia whakaora ai te reo Māori i te ao Ōpaki :)

Shana

Learning Te Reo has been my goal for a long time. To keep our heritage alive.

Shakaiya

i would love to learn the language living in NZ. I am new in NZ and i love the local culture and would love to be a part of the community :)

Shaaz

I would like to understand whaikorero at the marae and speak with my whanau in te reo.

Serena

Love Maori language!

Selvi

maori

sebastian

Māori kaupapa is important to be a part of

Savanna

Maori is deeply rooted in its language, culture and heritage, people of this land. Maori is our national official language, so we should all celebrate and practice speaking Te Reo.

Kristin

As New Zealanders we should all embrace the uniqueness of Aotearoa.

Sarah

As a pākehā resident of Aotearoa New Zealand, I feel it is extremely important for me to play my part in honouring and uplifting Te Reo Māori in all areas of my life - be it my workplace, at home, in conversation, etc.

Sarah

It's such a lovely language and deserves to be heard more.

Sarah

Because it's part of our heritage as NZers.

Sarah

To protect and honour our past and future

Sarah

It's important to keep our unique culture and language alive. For the future generations.

Sarah

Māori language is such an import part of keeping Māori tikanga alive and thriving. I want to do my part by improving my knowledge of and practicing Te Reo. I'm definitely a beginner, but I love learning new languages so I'm trying to learn and little bit everyday & incorporate Te Reo into my regular korero.

Sarah

I enjoy speaking te reo Māori and I want my baby too also! I want her to understand how special it is to us as NZers.

Sarah

Coming from Ireland I strongly believe in the importance of protecting language as a part of culture. In Ireland there is a phrase "Tir gan teanga, tir gan anam" which means a country without it's language is a country without its soul. I want to do whatever I can to support the use of Te Reo Maori as an integral part of New Zealand culture. I have completed a Level 2 Te Reo course through Te Wananaga o Aotearoa and I enjoy using Te Reo with my daughter. Te Reo is used a lot at her daycare and many of her first words have been in Te Reo. I look forward to suppoting her to grow up having Te Reo as a natural part of day to day life.

Sarah

I am hapu at the moment and have a 20month old daughter. I want them to not only speak te reo in their everyday lives but also know their history and people. The blog post slug for this story is: sarah_-_lower_hutt_0fvi3mpwxji9rbk4q6d5ig

Sarah

Te reo Māori is so beautiful and important, I 100% support it!

Sarah

To grow Te Reo Māori in Aotearoa:)

Sarah

To say ‘thank you ‘ to a country that has welcomed my family and I.

Sarah

To encourage the students in my class to learn and speak te reo māori and make connections to their whanau and whenua.

Sarah

It is our obligation and as part of Aotearoa to commit to keeping this Reo alive. More personally my Nieces are Maori and I want them to grow up with Te Reo and not be ashamed to speak it and I want to be able to continue to communicate with them in this way and encourage them to be proud Maori wahine!

Sarah

Part of being a New Zealander, and unique to New Zealand

Sarah

The use of te reo was actively reduced, it must be revived because it is unique and integral to Maaori identity and wellbeing, and therefore the wellbeing of all.

Sarah

To promote Te Reo Maori use in our Kura.

Sarah

So we don’t lose the language

Sarah

I am a Pakeha, and the preservation of Te Reo is extremely important to me, because it is a part of our culture as New Zealanders.

Sarah

It's important that we support things that are uniquely Māori, and we would love to see our diverse team celebrate and normalise te reo Māori within our stores and communities

Sarah

I believe te reo Maori is fundamental to this land. I claim the title Pakeha with pride, because it defines me in relationship to Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa. The blog post slug for this story is: sarah_-_auckland_x1ir3g9jfhr-pp6g1e6quw

Sarah

To keep our reo alive & to connect to my own identity

Sarah

To better understand my culture as a New Zealander, and for my tamariki.

Sara

At my school, we are working hard at developing our Māori language skills and I am in full support of that. While I find it hard to learn a different language, I am in full support of what my school is trying to achieve. He pai ake te iti i te kore :)

Sandy

He Taonga te reo Maori mo te whenua o Aotearoa. Mo nga Maori, mo nga Pakeha hoki. Me ako tatou tenei reo ataahua.

Sandy

to be part of the movement of connecting myself and my whanau to learn understand and Loreto tatou reo rangatira

Sandra

To improve

Sandra

It’s a part of who I am, te reo Māori. It’s a part of who should be as a nation. Aside from the psychological benefits of bilingualism, it provides a sense of identity in us. It provides a beautiful language that incorporates all the bits of nature and humanity - something often missing from the English language.

Samara

I love t o learn Maori

Sam

Te reo Māori is part of Aotearoa where my home is.

Sam

Te Reo is part of our history, culture and what makes part of Aotearoa.

Sam