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'

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

Te Reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand and also cultural heritage. It's important to make it live anyway we can, even if we're not from Māori descent or not even from New Zealand. As a foreigner, it's a way for me to pay respect and show gratitude to this country that welcomed me.

Claire

To speak the language of New Zealand

Claire

Te Reo Maori is part of my whakapapa. I want to be able to speak the language of my tupuna and to korero with my tamariki and my mokopuna in te reo.

Claire

It feels right and resonates within me

Claire

For our choir, we love to sing and represent the culture. We used New Zealand sign language in our version of Wairua Tapu which we sang today at midday

Claire

For me it is about ensuring that I recognize the heritage of Aotearoa as a pakeha New Zealander. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked alongside people who have influenced my understandings of these commitments in both social work and teaching. Their influence has also made me parent differently and show my children my commitments in honoring Te Titiriti o Waitangi. What I have learnt is the language is beautiful and the meaning of it has so much wisdom and is a gift for everyone. Working in ways that enhance mana for all tamariki cannot happen unless we bring forward the language and this is my commitment - to learn more and encourage those I know to learn more because it matters most.

Clair

Because we believe that New Zealand is a bicultural nation. We have 3 official languages in New Zealand, Maori is one of those, (English and Sign language) what a privilege. For many years Maori was not permitted to be spoken in the education setting. Let's celebrate and treasure that we now have the freedom to celebrate this nowadays! Kaua he whakama ki te korero Maori, Ahakoa he iti, he taonga. Don't be shy to speak Maori, no matter how little, treasure it!

Cindy

Our language needs to be given the status it deserves. The greater number of people who share the load to have it spoken on a consistent basis are all bringing it back to daily use, precisely where it should be.

Cimone

To continue educating not only myself but others in Te Reo so that it can continue to be carried on to younger generations

Ciccone

Kei te pirangi ahau ki te ako i Te Reo Māori, ki te kōrero ia rā . . .

Christine

It is important to acknowledge/recognise the manawhenua of Aotearoa. The language is an art and should not be lost. It is the heart and mana of the people and I would like to help by supporting this

Christine

It is important that te reo Māori and its world view are understood and maintained by those who live here

Christine

I am 1/4 maori and sadly do not understand or speak maori.

Christine

I want to learn more about Maori culture

Christa

The Maori language is part of our heritage and as New Zealanders learning te reo will give us the confidence to want to learn more and be involved in the culture

Chrissie

To celebrate and recognise what makes Aotearoa so unique

Want to feel more comfortable by being able to say a few words in Te Reo

Chris

It is what makes us what we are

Chris

Because Aotearoa is the home of all tangata Māori; we will be a better nation/community if we understand and respect te ao Māori, and as part of achieving that we need to understand and use te reo.

Chris

I’m already on the wave, but need to keep riding it!

Chris

Its part of our nations identity and we need to include all kiwis in this. If we all embrace the Maori culture, language, and way of looking after the whenua, New Zealand will become much greater than she is now, as we will be building for the future instead of looking into the past and teaching future generations the hatred and feeling of being wronged for ancient sins. The sons of the sons of the sons of those crimes in New Zealands history have all paid the price on both sides of the racial divide. Time for healing, to come together and recognize we are one nation and the spiteful hanging onto historical wrongs is only hurting us all. Teach the values to the young, teach the language, teach the respect, teach them about the land, sea, flora and fauna and how to respect and nurture it and enjoy watching the people grow together. The land and sea will recover with us as a nation. Mauri Ora! Show the world we know, love and live Te Ao Maori

Chris

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