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 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

To learn more about my culture and celebrate my culture

Ashleigh

I have Maori in my blood. I am in an unfortunate position where I have been removed from my culture as a result of colonisation. My entire family who is all Maori don't speak or practice the language in our own home due to an earlier relative who was racist towards her own. This has lead to a serious displacement in my whanau, something I wish to reclaim.

Ashleigh

Te reo is a rongoā!

Ashleigh

the more kiwi's that speak Te Reo Maori & understand Tīkanga māori the stronger we will be in Aotearoa xx

Ascia

To normalise Te Reo in my whanau on our marae in the community in Aotearoa.

Arthur

Want to learn the first language spoken in this motū and to help Aotearoa become bilinguial!

Arron

It’s taken a long time for us māori to be treated fairly, people who don’t understand tend to push those things away, such as our culture which was left to the side for years, so it is very necessary to educate those who do not know or understand our traditions and culture so that all people are able to understand our actions and take part instead of pushing away due to lack of knowledge, then there are those who are just genuinely not interested or are prejudice towards māori, they will be respected for their decisions, if they are able to understand the way we feel about our loved culture, then they will then find the light they hadn’t previously seen, this task is not possible from one person, but is the task that we must do together as a community, its all about whanau. He waka eke noa❤️

Arona

Knowing where I come from and love the history of maori’s

Aroha

It's important to me to be able to understand and korero te reo Maori because I live in NZ, I am Maori, and I have children who I want to understand and speak te reo also.

Aroha

I value our Maori culture and heritage and want to show my respect by being able to speak te reo with my friends.

Armin

Part of my heritage as a Kiwi.

Ariel

This encourages me with seeing how many tangatawhenua out their and inspires me to learn more about Maori culture, traditions and reo.

Ariana

Ko te reo Maori he taonga tuku iho ki a tatou, ngai Maori mai nga tipuna. Ko te reo Maori te reo taketake o Aotearoa.

April

We tautoko Māori as much as we can. This week we are learning the significance of the Land March and Dame Whina Cooper. We feel lucky to be here in Aotearoa and wanted to share in this special moment. Kia kaha te reo Māori

Tanya

Ko Aoraki te mountain Ko Waitake te awa Ko uruao te waka Ko ngati manoe, nga tahu na iwi Ko antoni manning toku ingoa Just want to learn and understand as its apart of me and so I can speak it at maraes

Antoni

Because Te Reo Maori is important for me and my whānau.

Anthony

he rawe te reo māori!

Annemarie

My family came to New Zealand from Scotland in the early 1800's before the Treaty of Waitangi, so we have been here a long time and yet, except for my primary school days in the 1970's, my Maori language education has been severely lacking. Since visiting Hawaii and hearing how their language almost died out, I have been keen to learn Te Reo and to learn more about Maori culture.

Suzanne

To represent Te Reo in our school and our country.

Annabel

Important to speak all national languages to engage with more people

anna

To reconnect with my whakapapa and tīpuna.

Anna

It's important to me to take part because Te Reo is one of NZ's national languages, it is unique to Aotearoa and we should be proud of it. Also because as a Pakeha I believe we have a responsibility to help get the language thriving again after it was so unfairly and brutally suppressed.

Anna

Because i like Maori.

Anna

He kaupapa tino hirahira tēnei - mōku (he wahine pākēhā), mo tōku whānau (he tangata Māori, no Awherika-Amerika, Airana, Kōtirana, Wēra, Kuki Airani hoki), mo ngā tangata katoa, me te whenua tino ataahua o Aotearoa nei.

Te reo Māori is the first language of Aotearoa. I see that all NZers have a role in keeping te reo alive and thriving. I want my children to grow up in a bicultural country with a truly bicultural experience and outlook. Valuing te reo Māori is valuing Māori, a stance we need to push for to work against casual and systemtic racism and the effects of colonisation.

Ann

I love the language. I want to learn the te reo Māori culture and traditions

Sueann

As part of living in NZ and proud Kiwi I would like to learn more about the Maori culture and language

Anmar

Te reo Māori is the language of this land, and I believe it is vitally important to know the language of the land. It is a part of who we are. As a kaiako of very young children, I want to be a part of this to add to my journey into understanding Te ao Māori more.

Anita

Having heard recently that as a white woman Te Reo is not our right. - I am hoping to change that narrow minded view. Te Reo is part of NZ and being a New Zealander it is part of me. I would like to celebrate the language and use it more in everyday conversation.

Anita

I feel its about time I have learnt our BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE , I always use to sit there and listen while my whanau spoke it and would wonder what they are saying . The time has come . I struggle with saying the KUPU properly.

Anita

I am pākehā, but I have been blessed enough to grow up around Māori culture. Te reo Māori is the original language of the people of this land and it is an honour that so many cultures can call Aotearoa ‘home’. But it is our responsibility to ensure the language and the culture does not get lost or forgotten, but is pushed to the front

Anita

Language is an important part of who we are as the people who have made our homes in NZ and it is important to embrace the language of taangata whenua.

Anil

he reo rangatira mo tenei ao.

Te-Arani

bc of my irish heritage I know what it is like to lose your language and culture. I was lucky enough to take Te Reo Māori & Kapas at school and I loved it straight away. Now that I have a Māori tamahine it’s important both for me and her and the rest of our whānau to revitalise both Māori and Irish (Gaeilge) as much as possible.

Angie

to continue learning

Angeline

waiata It is our taonga for NZ

Angelina

My family is racist, and I am trying to undo the damage that they caused by embracing Te Reo and the beautiful culture that it touches upon.

Angelika

It's about honouring ti tiriti and becoming a New Zealander

Angela

My why is to have a better connection to my whanau and whenua. To feel closer to my tipuna. To bridge the gap that was created in the 1930s - 1960s when Māori was not spoken and a whole generation missed out (my parents generation) and therefore we missed out too. This is my own personal journey of re-connection and understanding and gaining the confidence to speak and understand te reo. Also to be able to support my own tamariki on their journey's when they are ready.

Angela

Te reo Maori is an amazing language, it belongs to all of us as a national language of our country, but it is a taonga of the tangata whenua and they gift it to the rest of Aotearoa. We should all try to use it more, say it well, give it a go.

Annette

Keeping te reo alive in aotearoa it is the first language and should be treasured! As a Pacific islander I know how important my culture is to me. But sadly my generation dont have access to the reo as we are encouraged to speak more English. As a child I had grandparents who spoke cook island to us so we were privileged to listen to them. Our parents dont speak our tongue to us it's all papaa.

Angela

Kia Ora, What drives us to take part is that we honour te tiri O Waitangi and acknowledge Māori as first nation people and understand the importance of keeping the Māori language and the culture alive. Ngā mihi nui Angela Tainui Diversional Therapist Maples Lifecare Christchurch 8042 03 3484362

Angela

I LOVE languages and feel it's important that none die out.

Angela

Celebrating diversity and culture Being a kiwi I feel it is my duty to celebrate and promote Te Reo Maori

Andy

Celebrating NZ's rich cultural heritage and deepening my knowledge of our indigenous language.

Andy

Te Reo expresses who we are in Aotearoa-NZ, not just for a few but for all. Even though languages don’t come easily to me, speaking some Te Reo Maori connects me to the whenua of this land and makes me part of a greater whole. As someone who is an Anglican Christian and part of a three Tikanga church structure, this is important as a small way of acknowledging that this is a partnership and not three silos.

Andrew

Ko te reo Maori te reo tuatahi o tenei motu, he taonga hoki o te motu nei, he mea tino nui tenei mo tatou katoa o Aotearoa, ahakoa he Maori, he Pakeha

Ānaru

To learn about my homeland, not from the official government viewpoint but from the Native Kiwi viewpoint and to try and keep abreast of current affairs around NZ. . .

Andrew

I love being part of a team that supports and embraces the mana whenua.

Andrew

I don't want Te Reo to be a lost language

Andrea

I want to see te reo maori be bck where it should be - first language to maori, second comfortable language for as many New Zealanders as possible.

Andre

He whakatauira ki aku tamariki i te hirahira o te reo Māori.

Cherilyn

Kia ora. My vision for all my mokopuna to korero in Te Reo along their Tongan language; knowing the land we have landed on!

Anahila

Kia whakapakari ai tō tātou reo. Ko te reo, kia tika. Ko te reo, kia rere. Ko te reo, ka mahia.

Anahera

Because i really want to learn Te Reo Maori from the beginning to carry on our Whanau legacy and Tikanga of who we're and where we come from and learn about our Ancestors and carry on the Legacy of our Whanau etc

Kristin

It’s important for me to take part because it shows my support not only for my language but my people;my tupuna.

Anahera

I believe that we should all learn apart of Maori heritage as it is something that is extremely important, and ovr the years it is coming more significant again especially after it was supressed for so long

Ana

To learn and teach maori

Ana

Want to take part to link me back to my roots. With Covid not being able to return home has been the hardest. te reo Maori is important to know so we can carry on the language of our forefathers.

Ana

Nō tātou te Māori, mō tātou o te āo whānui kia rongo ki te reo rangatira ko te reo Māori i tēnei whenua o Aotearoa. Me rongo i tō tātou taonga āo mai, pō mai.

Ana

To build more of my identity as an immigrant New Zealander.

I believe it is very important that more people make the effort to learn and use our national language te reo Maori. I believe that is should be compulsory in all primary schools so that everyone learns at least the basics of the language and the culture at an early age. I am looking forward to learning this beautiful language and using it more in my daily life! !

Amy

As a teacher, I think it's vital to do my best to teach students about Māori history and te Reo.

Amy

It's important to take part as me may need to maori languages in life while growing up

amra

Planning to immigrate to New Zealand so I need that to learn its history

Amr

Because te reo is one of our natioanl languages

Amelia

Because we are learning Māori abroad

Amelia

It is important for me to learm morw about my culture and heritage! And celebrate the Maori language

Amelia

I see embracing Te Reo and Te Ao Maori as the way forward for New Zealand- in terms of identify, reducing inequity and enhancing pride. And its a beautiful language!

Amber

Pro equity we are all connected to Aotearoa therefore we should be participating in tikanga, korero and advocacy / education.

Amanda

Kia Ora. One reason it's important for me is because I want the kids in my class to be capable and confident in our New Zealand culture and Te Reo is an integral part of that.

Amanda

New Zealand Sign Language is NZ's second official language alongside Maori. I know the value of celebrating our indigenous languages, so I wanted to get behind the movement!

Amanda

It is our national language and apart of the New Zealand Culture. The more we speak it the more people will embrace the language and culture.

Amanda

Te reo is a beautiful language and our language in Aotearoa. Celebrate it, treasure it , grow it xx

Amanda

To honour the treaty of Waitangi, to tautoko my akonga by using te reo in my ako.

Amanda

To honor the bi-cultural partnership of Aotearoa, to tautoko my Māori ākonga, to be a good role model to others. To help ako my own identity as Māori, shout out to Ngāti Apakura.

Amanda

I love to learn about different cultures. I am a strong believer in cultural diversity. Te Reo Māori is not merely a language; it is a unique imprint of New Zealand. It's more about people, feelings, culture, history and a big whānau!

Amal

I am new to NZ and as an Australian I see the value in keeping native languages alive before they die out! As a teacher I also want to learn te reo Maori so I can use it in my classes to be more culturally responsive.

Alyssa

To ensure the survival of the language within my own whanau.

Alyson