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'

Te Reo is much more than a language, it's a tool for history and understanding and protecting out environment and our communities.

Chris

Because it is a cultural thing and I am part Māori and want to speak more of it

I am raising an Australian born Maori child and his father does not know a lot of the language and therefore I want to learn to try and be able to speak and grow with them.

Chloe

Because i'm learning to get back into being more fluent.

chloe

It is my why Who I am And where I want to be

Cheryl

It's important to me as a pakeha to do what I can to support Maori culture to hold a bigger space in Aotearoa as part of the decolonising that needs to take place

cherie

As this is who we are.

Cherie

This is part of who we are.

Kristin

To become more educated on the culture (being originally from the UK) and to become more comfortable using what is a beautiful language

Charlotte

Te reo is something everyone in Aotearoa should be proud to learn, speak and understand. It's an immense privilege to have an indigenous language that we can support to survive and thrive well into the future. A privilege that drives me to be one in a million.

Charlotte

Te Reo is a foundation of Nz. As a kiwi its important we continue to strengthen those foundations.

Charlie

To restore Aoteraroa

learn

Chanon

One day I want to be able to understand and fluently be able to speak Te Reo

Ceilidh

Such a beautiful language and an integral part of the NZ culture The blog post slug for this story is: cecile_-_mount_maunganui

Cecile

It is important that more people use Te Reo Maori in everyday life.

Catriana

I want to be part of this beautiful opportunity on a journey together, where we can as the people of Aotearoa celebrate our Te Reo Māori fluently.

Cathryn

inclusion, recovery, community, and love.

Catherine

I want to support and take responsibility for, the flourishing of te reo and te ao Māori.

Catherine

I try and use a little bit of Maori everyday at work. Now that my nephews are learning in at school and playcentre I make sure that I talk to the in Maori and encourage them in their learning. One day I will do my mihi.

catherine

I think it is important that everyone living in New Zealand has some basic understanding of Te Reo and it shows respect for the country and its heritage. I want to be an example to my family too

Catherine

I am learning to kōrero Māori so it helps me. It's important to recognise and try to speak and listen to the language of tangata whenua

Cath

Because te reo should be fundamental to our country's identity, I love learning the language and all the richness it gives, and it is great to be part of a renaissance of te reo.

Cath

Anything that champions reo māori is important. I didn’t get the privilege of having this taonga tuku iho passed down to me from our last fluent speaking nanny and pou of our whānau, and I resent colonisation because of that.

Cassie

To normalise for future generations

Cass

To recognise the place Te Reo has in our work.

Casey

Its a vital part of our heritage and culture. More people should feel OK to speak Te Reo even if they are not Maori.

Carolynn

Its a movement! ! ! And we need to be connected

carolyn

Our girls deserve to be who they are!

Carolyn

I love te reo Maori and want to be able to speak it more fluently, it it part of my heritage.

Caro

I am trying, not very successfully, to teach myself te reo. Working as a Librarian at a school I just feel it is important.

Carolyn

To learn, participate and keep our Reo alive and thriving for myself and my tamariki while here in Australia

Kararaina

I want to to contribute to Reorua!

carol

I want to learn to speak the language of our country. To acknowledge all of those who have saved the Maori language so we can learn and use the language

Carol

To keep Maori culture alive

Carmen

I moved two years ago with my family from the UK, I think practicing and celebrating Te reo Maori is a way of keeping the language and culture alive and definitely this is an enrichment for the whole country.

Carmen

Because I want to ensure that te reo is celebrated and that everyone gives it a go.

Carmen

I would like to see te reo Māori taught in schools. Language is intrinsically connected to culture and I think this would be an effective way for people in Aotearoa NZ to understand te ao Māori better. We all need to be in the same waka rowing in the same direction to achieve this.

Carla

Keeping Te reo alive

Carla

Te Reo Maori is the indigenous language of Aotearoa. We have to make sure it doesn't get lost, and instead that more and more people learn it well so that it becomes the new 'normal' and people speak it all the time. That is the only way that people will become and stay fluent in this beautiful language.

Carla

E tautoko ana te mahi o te Taurawhiri i Te Reo Maori me whakapakari Te Reo Maori kei roto i to tatou tari

Carl

As a kiwi living in Australia its more i. po6to me than ever not to lose touch with my root's

Cara

We can be more than what we are today. Ma whero, ma pango, ka oti ai te mahi. Together we can do this.

Candy

Maori is apart of who we are as a nation.

Camille

So I can use Te Reo more often with my children and it becomes a bigger part of our family life!

Camille

Because the reo gets more beautiful the closer you get to it. Because it is our first language and deserves respect. Because it was too close on being obliterated in our past.

Cameron

Because learning and speaking Māori is a unique opportunity we have in NZ, and because speaking more than one language is one of the best things a person can do for themselves and their community - mentally, emotionally, psychologically. And because of Te Tiriti: learning te reo is a crucial part of being a New Zealander, and a vital of honouring the very special and powerful partnership agreement which makes our nation what it is.

Caleb

I’m a proud Māori, love my people, my culture.

Caitlin-rose

I am Maori

Caite

Move toward a truly bi-cultural nation

Bryce

To stay connected to my whanau and my Maori heritage.

Bryan

To embrace our cultural identity and multiculturalism.

Bruno

I enjoy sharing as best I can the taonga that is te reo.

Bruce and Janet

It is such a significant part of where this country has come from.

Bruce

as a 4th generation from Rakiura, I have for many years felt that I am a pakeha tangata whenua & I believe as a nation we will contribute to a much healthier society by being conversant with maoritanga & our shared journey since colonisation began

Bruce

I want to take part because it is where I live and because I'm supporting the Maori people in our country.

Brooklyn

learn more maori and it is maori language week. the teacher said to take part.

Brooke

It's important to take part in a small way.

Brooke

I believe everyone should learn and understand te reo Māori as a part of everyday New Zealand life. It's such as special part of our country. Hopefully taking part gets NZ closer to that step. I also want to get better and more confident at te reo Māori myself.

Briee

To support my tamariki who are Maori on their Papa's side and out of respect to their papa and his whanau who have always made me feel like one of their own, right from the moment I arrived in NZ at the age of 18.

Bridget (Pīrita)

It's important to me to take part because hearing Te Reo Māori being spoken is so awesome to hear and if I can just do my part to share the Reo then I will.

Bridey

Na te mea - Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria.

Briar

Mā te kōrero Māori e kīa nei he Māori koe. Na reira, Māori mā, me kōrero Māori tātou. ahakoa he iti tō reo, he rōreka rānei tō reo Māori. Kōrerohia, tautokohia, manaakitia tō tātou reo Māori. Koia e tautoko ana ahau i te whakaaro me kuhu i te kaupapa nei, waihoki, me matua tautoko i te kaupapa nei. Ko taku mahi he noho, he tuku taku oriori ki te ao whanui ka timata hei te poupoutanga o te rā nei. Kāore e āhei ana taku hangarau matahiko e hono atu ki te rōpū. Heoi anō, ka aro tonu ahau ki taku kaupapa. Mauri ora ki a tātou. Brian P

Brian

Just to understand the language as well being engaged

Brent

Respect for the history of the land I work on.

Brendan

A chance to take a step out of my pākeha world and into te ao Māori. Hopefully it's a step on a longer journey towards respect and understanding.

Brendan

Te reo Maori is part of being a New Zealander and at Best Start Whangamata we are proud of our heritage as children of Aotearoa. Kia kaha te reo Maori!

Brenda

Tautoko te reo maori

Brenda

To set a good example for ōku hoa time tōku whānau

Bree

Because my current knowledge of Te Reo is poor and it is embarrassing!

Brad

Maori culture is important, and more need to be involved .

Bodhi

I would enjoy talking maori with the mokopuna

Bobbie

it is important to take part because Te Reo Māori, the native tongue of Māori New Zealanders, has been fading out of everyday life for a long time. But now the language is experiencing a revival, which is bringing Māori heritage to the forefront of Aotearoa. Recent appreciation for Māori culture and the importance of Te Reo Māori in New Zealand history has sparked a fresh interest in the language’s protection. thus nz culture should be protected from existing.

Bishnu

Encourage, acknowledge and celebrate our Reo

Bijay

To improve the reo for our whanau

Bianca

Mo Te hau Ora o ngā Tamariki

Bianca

knowledge is good

Bev

It is important for me to take part in support of my Indigenous brothers and sisters of Oceania.

Beulah

Because language is at the heart of everything

Betty

As a guide on Tiritiri Matangi (Wildlife Sanctuary/Scientific Reserve island that is open to the public), in addition to improving my pronunciation of Maori wildlife names and uses, I would like to understand more about the linguistic clues to the history of the Maori culture. I'm hoping to share my interest, and for my visitor groups, to perhaps generate curiosity in and exposure to Maori language, culture, and history. I also see Maori culture as having much to offer Western thinking, and that it's important for Westerners to grasp as much as possible about Maori values before the culture is diluted to extinction. For real understanding I believe familiarity with the nuances of the language is imperative.

Bethny

It is me

Bethany

I already thought it was important to connect with our original language, that is unique to us and a core part of our cultural identify. Now that I work for a maori organisation it is part of the fabric of our organisation and I want to have as deep an understanding and connection as I can.

Beth

For my Whanau, being eldest male in my generation on my Father side. Tuakana has some responsibility, I never felt comfortable, with it as other whanaunga do speak te reo. I have mokopuna who love te reo & kapa haka, but this is why I need help to go as far & beyond Te Ao Maori.

Bernard

It is important that te reo Maori is a living thriving language in Aotearoa NZ. As the waiata Ke Kakano ahau states language is an ornament of grace. It should be enjoyed and treasured.

Bernadette

I have been learning Te Reo for 3 years. I want to share my language with others.

Benjamin

One person can make the difference

Ben

I believe that the Maori language should be compulsory in schools. Everyone in New Zealand should learn and embrace the language.

bella

We need to be hearing our young people keep the language alive.

Bek

Te Reo is the language of our country and we are so lucky to have something so special and unique to NZ. As a teacher it is my favourite subject to teach and I love the way the tamariki engage in the language and explore their connections to our country,

Becky

To learn more Maori and it is Maori language week. The teacher said to take part :)

Beaumia

To learn more.

Beate

Because its important as a New Zealander to learn and connect to our history and surroundings. If everyone learns even the basics and become more comfortable in speaking maori in everyday language, then hopefully barriers will break down and it becomes normal.

Baylee

I want to be able to draw strength from my heritage and culture as to who I am and where I come from. Being able to korero maori and understand te reo maori I believe will get me a better connection as to who I am and where I come from and where I belong.

Barbaletta

I love Aotearoa I am Tau iwi I respect Te Tiriti It is important to know, love + respect all languages, + cultures

Bal

I want to take part because It is time our generation (1990's) to take part and learn Te Reo Maori in everyday life. To teach our tamariki what our tipuna learnt when they were growing up. Normalize Te reo, inspire other maori, pakeha, tongan, Samoan, Italian etc that this is a language of nz and its a beautiful language aswell.

Awhi

My why is to be able to speak the language of my ancestors and for my son to be able to as well so the language is able to live for future generations.

Awhina

It is important to take part in this special moment as it is a huge part of New Zealand's Maori history.

Austin

To encourage my mokopuna to learn Te Reo

Atawhai

Personally to keep and strengthen the connection to home and our people where ever I am. To consciously try to do better every day to keep our language alive in me. I also want to share our language and culture with our children at YMCA. Here at Revesby North YMCA Sydney we have families and children from many cultures and backgrounds. Some children are Maori or from home; others all over the world but they all have a common interest in willingness to learn each others culture. They have really enjoyed learning and playing Maori games and craft. So i want to share more and extend their passion for learning especially Maori culture.

Ata

Te reo revitalisation

Astrid