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 kaiako - I feel it's important to take part and teach our tamariki to understand the importance of Te Reo Māori. The more we speak Te Reo Māori - the more normal it becomes in our everyday life.

Elizabeth

I appreciate connecting with others on such an important and inspiring take, which provides another way that I can learn and grow my knowledge.

Elisabeth

When I moved to Aotearoa pakeha culture felt foreign to me, and intuitive as it asked me to leave my culture at the door and embrace more traditional British values in order to be accepted. Māori culture welcomed we with my whole baggage, celebrating my tikanga e whakapapa. Diversity enriches us all. Moving Aotearoa toward being a real bicultural country will enrich us all.

Eleonora

There are many aspects of Maori culture which I find very inspiring, and learning the language brings us all closer together.

Eleanor

We have been living in Australia since 1985, our four children were young then, which means our grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren are foreign to their te reo Maori, yet their wairua within tells them otherwise. I’m all about leaving legacies for our children’s children and so forth, that we can always identify our roots and who we are as children of God, no matter where we plant our feet to reside. I love my reo, my culture and my Maori’ness, although we were not taught to korero Maori or understand te reo, it’s never too late to learn.

Eleanor

I had a little Te Reo Maori education at primary school and attended some Te Reo Maori classes in my early 20s. Now in my early 70s I would like encourage my young grandsons to be more confident than I am to use Te Reo Maori.

Elaine

So that current and future generations do not lose this important heritage - language defines the people - who they are and where they have come from.

Elaine

To show an interest in keeping te reo alive and being used daily in New Zealand

Elaine

find it interesting to learn a new language.

Eileen

I have been trying for some time to learn Te Reo and have been involved with several Zoom lessons. I do not learn languages very easily so am continuing to try.

Eileen

Kia ora, It's an important part of our heritage and well being as a nation that is maturing, and te reo is a beautiful language. Edward

Edward

My Maori ancestry and culture is important to me and I feel that some historic wrongs need to be reconciled as much as possible i. e. the strategic effort to wipe the Maori language completely back in the early 1900's. Our language is our identity.

Edward

It is important because it is the language of Aotearoa. We need to use it, respect it and emerge it into our lives. The more we use it, celebrate it and hold moments like this - The more we will learn and grow together as people of Aotearoa.

Eden

As a Canadian that migrated to Aotearoa in 2013, I took part in a journey that integrated te ao Māori and from there was inspired to integrate it in my personal life and responsiveness for the way I worked.

Edelrose

To acknowledge, show understanding of and continue to implement Tikanga in a real way.

Ed

Hidden post

I don't want the language to die

Pete

i am am te reo maori and i want to bring the language to life so everone knows what it is

Dylan

To keep Te Reo alive.

Dylan

Because te reo Maori is important to New Zealand.

Duncan

Big picture: I support the renaissance of te reo Māori as a form of redress and respecting Māori as tāngata whenua. Selfishly: my wife and kids are Māori.

Duane

Because I want to learn more about my culture

Dredyn

My boyfriend is Māori. And I’d love to get to the point where I could have a conversation with him. Its a surprise

Dorita

I support the kaupapa of Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori and am encouraging myself to start on this learning journey.

Doris

Te reo has a crucial role to play in Aotearoa New Zealand's identity

Donna

It is important to acknowledge the diversity that exists in Aotearoa.

Donna

Im proud to be Maori and want to show that to my collegaues

Donna

To be a participant in a worthy endeavour that facilitates a survival strategy for continual use of Te Reo as an everyday language in Aoateroa

Donna

It is Important to me to incorporate Te Reo Maori in my everyday life conversations, because it is everyday part of Our lil family, Our Mokos are surrounded by Te Reo Maori and it is my choice to participate as best I can. to help me and also help Our Mokos.

Donna

I had just explained in the last patai but will explain again. As my tamariki and mokopuna are Maori I feel it is important to learn Maori reo especially that my moko are in Australia and dont get to be here with us to embrace our culture. I always send them books, posters etc so they can learn the basics. Its not much but its a start. I encourage work collegues to learn the reo also with having words or phrase each week to use in our every day language.

Donna Lee

From my early adult years I've valued the bicultural principles that have were agreed as the cultural basis of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Alas the reality hasn't kept up with the reality, but hopefully we are seeing a change in understanding and behaviour that is important for Maori, Pakeha and i hui katoa nga tauiwi nei ki roto.

Don

Te Reo is such an important part of Aotearoa's past, present and future. To me, part of fostering the present and future, and supporting my Maori brothers and sisters is normalising Pakeha using Te Reo in everyday life, so other Pakeha can see it as normal and something they can get involved in, rather than separate, or just for Maori. Maori should absolutely be the kaitiaki of Te Reo, and Pakeha should feel like they can and should support that.

Dominique

I love the Maori culture and it is part of my wife's family heritage and therefore part of me too.

Dominic

Its Maori language week

Django

I work with children and I believe the children should know and recognise the National language of this country. Te reo is part of our curriculum and to be able to take part in the moment will enhance our knowledge about the Maori language and culture. The blog post slug for this story is: divya_-_auckland

Divya

Acknowledging my tipuna & keeping our very essence alive. Being proud of who I am & where I come from.

Dione

It is a privilege and pride to be a Maori speaking Kiwi!

Dinesh

Maori is party of our countries heritage.

Dianne

Because it is one of New Zealand's national languages and we cannot afford to loose how precious it is to New Zealand.

Di

My generation missed out on learning te reo Maori as it was not valued at the time, therefore it's important to promote and encourage te reo as an everyday language in Aotearoa. Eventually the reo will be accepted more widely by the community as I am observing more and more.

Diane

New Zealand, Aotearoa, it is so important we know our roots, where we started, our Maori is SO important to the vitality and who New Zealand is. It is our culture it is who we are (I am pakeha, but am so enriched because I am a kiwi who from birth have been grateful for Maori and the learning of the land etc - I am 51 years old and its important for now, the future). It is so important that we bring up Maori as the forefront of this country - it is why we are special and we need to embrace.

Diana

I'm tgaking part beacaue Te Reo Rangatira is the cheifly language

Diana

My heritage is the Khoekhoe (or San, Khoisan) - the indigenous peoples of South Africa. Currently, the government refuses to even acknowledge my whakapapa as the country's first nation's people and their struggle for recognition continues. In the absence of this recognition, the language is all but dead, spoken by only a handful of people. Living in New Zealand has made me more aware of my own heritage and the importance of its preservation. However, working for a Māori organisation for 8-years has brought that realisation to the fore. If there isn't anything I can do for my own whakapapa, then I want to be sure that I am contributing to Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori in any way I can. Mā pango, mā whero ka oti te mahi.

Deva

I have just completed level 3 Te Reo and want to share this with others

Desiree

Whakanuia te reo!

Dennis

Our language is one of the ways we pass down Cultural stories and Māori myths to our younger generations. I want to show my tamariki that it is an important taonga that should be protected and by speaking & singing Te reo Māori in our everyday lives we do just that.

Dennis

Te Reo is part of our nation's heritage.

Denise

I am a New Zealander and believe we should be a trilingual country (Reo, Signing and English)

Denise

Ko te reo kia rere

Denise

As I have grown older I have slowly grown in understanding of the awfil damage done to Tangata Whenua through loss and disrespect of Te Reo. I am trying to play a small part in making things right Sorry! I'm not able to take photos or record. But I'm committed.

Denise

I want all New Zealanders to learn and hear te reo Māori spoken everywhere.

Denise

I recognise we are a bicultural nation and so want to try to embrace some of the Maori culture. As a New Zealander Maori culture is kind of part of who I am. I have friends and family who are Maori so I want to understand their culture more. I have a good working relationship with my local Marae.

Dellwyn

to better understand the commonly used terms

della

I want to do my bit towards the country's goal of revitalising the language.

Delia

I would like te reo Maori to be spoken more by us all in everyday life

Deirdre

We are a multi cultural country and te Reo is one of our official languages. We should be interested in learning it. It's what makes us unique. I know I will never be fluent but I love to learn words and drop them into my everyday conversation. By doing that it recognises I am a New Zealander and I am proud of the culture and heritage we have available to us.

Debbie

We are forever on our learning journey with Te Reo Maori and tikanga practices within our early childhood environment.

Debbie

being a non fluent speaker makes me feel like I have lost something, some expressions in te reo Maori sum up ideas way better than the words in English, they explain the maori perspective as well, the link between the way the words have more than one meaning is something non maori speakers don't get, its like missing the punchline of a joke, if you have to have it explained its spoiled. I want my mokopuna to speak fluent language, my grandson didn't know that kai was the maori word for kai, he just thought it was the word for kai, i want that for all the words. In his classroom he was searching around for the new maori word for kai.

Debbie

To support te reo Maori as a unique NZ language important in retaining Maori culture

Debbie

We are learning about community and the NZ culture of Maori is part of our community

Debbie

Language is a connection to home and a sign of respect to culture

Debbie

As a teacher, the urgency of engagement with Te Reo Māori is one tool at our disposal to support Māori learners to achieve success in the context of being Māori. This is the very tip of the iceberg but making a start is important.

Deb

To normalise Te Reo Māori and showcase to others across the world, what a beautiful culture and language we have as Māori.

Deana

We want to acknowledge how important and special te reo maori is

Dawson Falls

For the tamariki I look after.

David

Te Reo is part of New Zealand's heretige and should be spoken by all.

David

I think it is vital for NZ to have a strong Maori culture and for Maori people to be positively represented in all parts of society.

David

158 years ago a boat load of my ancestors arrived in NZ from the UK. Their crops failed and they would have starved to death had it not been for the kindness and the generosity of the local Maori. I am here today because of them. I am not Maori but I feel the Maori culture is part of who I am. I respect and support their traditions and want to help these to thrive and become more mainstream in Aotearoa. Lastly I want to become less self conscious when talking in Maori.

David

To learn and parctice te reo is fundamental in my role as a student kaiako and as a New Zealander.

David

Maori is the indigenous language of Aotearoa. It should be treated equally with English. It is an official language and should be taught in schools.

David

Identity

Dave

I have started learning te reo. I'm not a natural but I keep trying. I love learning te reo. I am of European decent but I think it is really important to understand our history and culture of our mana whenua. There is nothing to be frightened of.

Dave

Whakawahanaungatanga

Dave

Why am I going to join with others today to speak te reo Maori? Because I agree to supporting and encouraging the heart language of this land to grow and flourish. The heart language of Tāngata Whenua. Diversity brings life. It's time to tip the scales. He waka eke noa. Let's enjoy the ride! ! ! Kia Kaha tātou! !

Daryn

mo te whanau

Darryl

Te reo Māori is the language of Aotearoa. The place names, flora and fauna all have Māori names. If English is the international language of Aotearoa, Te reo Māori is the indigenous reo o Te whenua o Aotearoa.

Darren

To lead my example. . . . That we are never to old to keep learning.

Darlene

I want to learn for myself

Daphne

I work with the Red Cross and volunteer with UNA NZ and we incorporate te reo in both places. I want to know how to pronunciate better as I am newer to New Zealand.

Danika

My grand parents were among the kaumatua that presented the petition to parliament to recognise and revitalise Te Reo. It is thanks to them and the many many people who fought hard all their lives to keep our language and culture alive that i am able to sit here today and witness and participate in what their efforts have achieved.

Danielle

To be a role model to my 4 month old, who I intend to teach te reo māori as it is part of his heritage through his Dads side.

Danielle

I think Te Reo is beautiful. My family moved here when I was 10, they have all emmigrated elsewhere but I love Aotearoa and want to make this my home. Māori culture needs to be restored, it's wonderful and it shouldn't have ever been demonised by the 'settlers' which is a nice way of wording a terrible thing. Kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga are principles I try to live by. I believe the way to respecting our planet and caring for it properly, lies in Māori principles. Kia Kaha, Enjoy this beautiful week. Daniel

Daniel

It's about honouring the language and custom of the people of Aotearoa.

Dani

I want to learn more about the indigenous culture and language of Aotearoa

Danelle

I think it’s important to respect and appreciate the cultural background of the country we were born in

Dan

As a new resident of this beautiful country, I feel it is important to know as much about the integrated Kiwi culture as possible.

Damon

Participanting cements my reo journey.

daisy

Maaori is a beautiful language, and it should be spoken everywhere in NZ.

I've been learning on and off for 20 years and Te wiki o the reo Māori provides a much needed boost to keep going.

Craig

My father in law grew up in the time when speaking Te Reo was actively discouraged. That meant his tamariki and mokopuna have missed out. As a whānau we are committed to learning the language and supporting its use in every day situations.

Craig

I want to great and converse (basic level) with people in their preferred language

Craig

I think it is important to embrace Aotearoa and our unique culture, by doing our part and learning te reo maori.

Courtney

I wish Te Reo was taught / used a lot more when I was at school and think I would have been more confident speaking it. I know and speak a lot of reo but not fluently and I feel the more exposure I have to it the more confident I will be to use it.

Corrine

To participate in our celebration of a great country, which celebrates our tangata whenua.

Corinne

To be proud of our nations language

Corinne

Its important part of being in Aoteaora

Connie

Te reo Maori is one of our official languages. The first language in Aotearoa. We are ONE. Using it helps us to be ONE. Using it affirms our Maori heritage. It helps to build self-esteem in those whose whanau have had to deal with many difficulties as our indigenous people. . And it's beautiful! I have mokupuna, and embracing te reo is another way of embracing their heritage.

Colleen

I can't speak Maaori. I am Ngai Tahu. This is a step in the right direction for me.

Colleen

It is part of our heritage and our culture - our mana. I want to acknowledge our history and feel comfortable to speak Te Reo as a pakeha and citizen of Aotearoa.

Clementine

As a travel writer and avid hiker, I believe it's important I respect and understand the history of the places I'm travelling through and the land I'm walking on. I also love learning languages and the stories behind places names, so I'm excited to start this journey!

Clarissa

Language is a part of us - I feel it lives like we do. I am not Māori but have lived here all my life. I love Aotearoa and language of the land is part of that. I feel ashamed that I can only say "Kia ora" and that I haven't done the Great Walks. I want to experience all that breathes here and language is part of that.

Clare