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'

It's important to keep Te Reo growing otherwise it will die. As more and more Kaiako & Speakers move on the new need to learn.

Stuart

Te reo is the grassroots of this country and it must continue to be passed down through the generations. Te reo should be taught in all schools, be present in all official names of New Zealand towns/cities/areas, should be on all signs, on all food produce packaging and in shops, on buses and other transport. Most definitely in more picture books! ! As a person who identifies within the white ethnic group, I feel that there is certainly not enough being done in all aspects - not just active sharing of te reo. . . and all of these must-do implementations listed above should not only be more prominent in our communities, but replace the English versions. Māori culture and māori people are beautiful, I hope they know that!

Stevie

I like te reo, always had. just time slipped away.

Stevie

Im a proud Maori myself, so I try and take as much part of alot of things that do with us "Maori". ❤️

Stevie

To be a part of and show support for the total "normalisation" of te reo usage in Aeotearoa New Zealand.

Jil

Ko te reo Māori te reo tuatahi o enei motu. Nō reira Kia kōrero ahau.

Stephen

As an immigrant, I feel that it is vital to learn some Te Reo.

Stephanie

I find Te Reo Maori a beautiful language and very fun to learn. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to learn Te Reo, through waitata, tuhituhi, pānui and noho marae and it connects me to my whakapapa and I am learning more about myself and Aotearoa.

Stephanie

As I am new to New Zealand and a teacher, I am trying to learn as much as I can as fast as I can.

Stephane

Our language is dying. More and more of our people aren’t learning their whakapapa, tikanga or reo. This is so important especially for our tamariki.

Starrett

Because we should all know where our country originated from, and everything that encompasses - language, culture, way of life, myths and legends. It is important to preserve Maori culture as it is our history.

Stacey

Because my spoken reo needs some word and every time I do speak my confidence doesnt allow the words to come from my mouth.

Stacey

We can't lose the language. It's part or Māori culture and we should all take some responsibility to see both (and therefore the people) thrive

Sophien

Te Wiki o te reo Māori is an opportunity for concentrated celebration, promotion and encouragement of te reo Māori across NZ – we want to be part of that! By incorporating even just a little bit of te reo (e. g. a ‘Kia ora! ’) during this week, our agency can contribute to the revitalisation of te reo Māori in Aotearoa. Te Wiki o te reo Māori is a fun and engaging way to introduce and begin our VMLY&R te ao Māori journey.

Sophie

I am pakeha and believe that we all have a part to play in the decolonisation of aotearoa, and making the effort to learn and use te reo every day is a big part of that.

Sophie

Since having my own children, I've wantedto learn te reo, having never had the chance at school. I hope that future generations of NZ speak te reo with joy and ease. I'm starting on my own journey with podcasts while I wait for spaces to open up in a local class.

Sophie

I am Sophia, 7 years old. It is important to practice Maori language as I am still learning.

Sophia

Te Reo Māori is a beautiful language and one of our national languages. As a 46 year old Pakeha women growing up in Aotearoa I did not have accessible opportunities to learn and celebrate te reo so I am embracing them now! Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Sophia

I want to acknowledge my grandparents who weren't able to speak Te Reo or learn because of the education system when they were growing up. I also want to learn and share more about my identity, and to learn the language that is part of it.

Sophia

My own indigeniety was taken away from our family (in the USA). I will do all I can to ensure this does not happen here!

Sonya

We want to have an authentic relationship with Te Ao Maori and this extends into how we are using language and traditions within our centre environment, our whanau and tamariki and our community.

Tash

It's important as it is NZ official language and all the New Zealanders should at least have basic knowledge of it.

Sonika

I think te reo is a beautiful language which has important cultural value. I am not Maori but my whanau whakapapa to Ngati Porou and I have a small grandson whose whanau are from Northland . He speaks reo beautifully and it is a great seeker of knowledge

Sonia

To help promote the importance of te reo māori being learnt/taught to preserve the language.

Sonia

To keep the language alive for the future of Aotearoa

Sofia

I think it’s very important to understand and acknowledge the language that is our whenua. We are the people of the land and this is our home, having our own language is a beautiful thing. I am Māori, I may not speak fluently in te reo but I am learning. Let’s not become ignorant but educate ourselves.

Skye

I think it's so important as a māori in Aotearoa to be part of what makes us unique. I'm on my reo learning journey, and I'm on this journey because I want to be fluent in the reo in years to come.

Skella

To me it is important that indigenious languages are recognised and valued. Te reo Maori is unique to New Zealand and is a taonga that must be nutured for it grow and take its place as an offical language in New Zealand.

Sinead

Because te reo is uniquely Aotearoa/NZ and needs to become standard throughout the land. Initiatives like this are helping.

Simon

It is part of my family, and it is something that we can't let be lost over time.

Sienna

Its important to celebrate the cultural diversity that exists in our beautiful country New Zealand. its nice to share the love and learn and respect other cultures.

Shraddha

To be a true new Zealander I must be able to speak and understand some Maori

Shona

I believe that we need to protect and foster Te reo Maori as language is culture, and this is our culture. Te reo Maori is a taonga for Aotearoa.

Shona

Helps me grow as learners/learning te reo also enhances my self-esteem.

Shital

It is important for us all to understand the importance of reo, and in particular te Reo Māori ki Aotearoa. We want our tauira to engage in experiences that reflect their culture and heritage.

Sheryl

To acknowledge tangata whenua as Te Reo is part of our culture. To empower the students I teach

Sheree

I am passionate about learning as I am a descendant of Notupango Marae.

Sheralee

This was my fathers and all my tupuna first language. I'm sadened that they weren't able to speak this language back then and my father did not want me to go through what he did with having this as my first language. I'm helping my father embrace his first language and with his permission asking for his help to embrace our beautiful korero. I want to learn and korero and share with my children and mokos.

Shelley

Te reo is part of the air, the sea and the land of Aotearoa. To understand this is to understand Aotearoa

Shelley

I feel its important to embrace our culture let's blast some Maori songs and feel good

Shekinah

Being a New Zealand citizen and an ECE teacher, I think it’s my obligation to acknowledge our unique bicultural heritage of Aotearoa.

Shehla

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Shaynon

Part of my commitment to being an honourable te Tiriti partner

shayne

I’m an early childhood teacher and enjoy sharing te reo Māori with the children I teach as well as my own two children. I am pakeha and struggle with some people close to me thinking it’s not the right thing to teach my children about the heritage of our country so that makes it even more important to me that I do.

Shawna

It is important to me that my children can speak all official languages of New Zealand and honour the first people of the land.

Shaune

For our future as a unique blend of cultures, New Zealand needs te reo Maori & personally it connects me back to NZ even when I'm overseas. I hope our culture & language doesn't just survive but instead thrives.

Shaughn

It is important for me to take part and be involved with learning the language in a hands-on way so I can support other people to do the same. I have young children so me being able to support them on their language journey is an awesome way of connecting to them and their learning.

Sharon

My late partner was Maori 0ur daughter is part Maori, my 3 grandaughter are part Maori so I encourage my grandaughters to learn as much as they can while they are still young

Sharon

Te reo contains the resonance of this whenua and her tangata. As a guest in this land it is my duty and privilege to learn the language that contains the wairua of Aotearoa and tangata whenua and to support and strengthen te reo Māori development and use.

Sharon

Māori language is one of 3 official NZ languages and needs our 100% support and promotion. I want to see each of us in NZ own it regardless of our ethnicity. I am pakeha NZ married to a NIuean Samoan brought up on the Coromandel where my mum was the only white woman in the Kapa Haka. The reo is key to our young people finding strength and purpose in their Identity and culture. this moment is a celebration of how far we have come as a nation since 1972. It is a moment to celebrate and to look forward to what further we need to accomplish as a nation.

Sharon

I am always up to learning. . Te Reo is one of three languages in New Zealand. . It is apart of who I am and my whānau. .

Sharna

I am a New Zealander and Maori is an official language of Aotearoa!

Sharlene

Ko te reo mauri o te mana Māori. Koina! kaore he kupu e tua atu i te kōrero nei! E tika ana me whakanui!

Shari

I love the vision behind this- to integrate te reo Maori into our everyday language - 1 million speakers by 2040 would be awesome!

Sharee

To connect myself and my kids with our Whakapapa

Shannon

I'm maori, of Tainui descendant- feel it's time. I want to learn-

Shani

to create a better Family connection and to continue learning

Shane

Tena koe, Ko Nga Puhi ko Ngati Mutunga Wharekauri Te iwi. Ko Shane Ngapou Ote Hahi Epiha tonu ingoa. I was born in 1975 at Middlemore Hospital Auckland. At 2 my father completed his trade through Maori Affairs as a carpenter and we moved Tennant Creek. NT Australia. Basically put you finger in the middle of the Australian map and that’s where I grew up for the next 10 years of my life. We moved back to NZ Northland in 1989. When we moved home it wasn’t cool to speak Te Reo and I was often ridiculed by non maori for trying. I have spent the last 30 years of my life ignoring my reo, my taonga, my heritage, my essence. Ko au Te Reo Te Reo ko au. I have spent my life communicating in English but not until I started learning and opening my heart to Te Reo have I realised I was supposed to communicating in my native language. I am now a fist term councillor and director for the biggest business in our district and being able to mihi in Maori is certainly my biggest privilege. Mana motuhake me te aroha, Tino Rangatiratanga.

Shane Ngapou O Te Hahi

Maori indigenous culture makes New Zealand special and we need to integrate it and te reo more.

Shan

I was made aware of this by my syndicate leader at school so thought I'd sign up :)

Sene

I'm half Maori and Tongan. Knowing my whakapapa is important to me especially my tamariki. I take pride in my cultures.

Seini

To learn te reo is part of my journey to learn more about myself so that I can continue to teach our rangatahi the importance of knowing who they are. .

Scotty

Kia kaua te reo Māori, me ōna tikanga e mate, e ngaro noa.

Scarlett

I want to be a part of the reo māori moment āpōpō and beyond! I want to be active and help keep te reo alive :) I am Pākeha but I am passionate about tikanga Māori and learning te reo is just one way a can continue to deepen my love & understanding of all things Māori.

Savannah

Because te reo is an official language of New Zealand. . I also want to acknowledge the significance of our indigenous culture.

Sars

I have friends who speak Te reo and I would love to engage with them and understand them better. It is an important aspect of their culture and self-identity and I want to acknowledge this.

Sarah-Jane

Better connection and understanding of Maori community.

Sarah

As a new New Zealander, Id like to broaden my understanding of culture here. Learning te reo Māori is the first step.

Sarah

It is important to make Te Reo an integral part of my classroom programme. I want to see my programme reflect my class .

Sarah

To celebrate and recognize the wonderful culture of Te Reo Maori

Sarah

I love the language and wish it was a widely spread 1st language of all New Zealanders

Sarah

I have always wanted to learn but i am a huge procrastinator and unsure of myself, now that i have a daughter who goes to kōhanga it is important to learn more so i can bring te reo into the home as well.

Sarah

Because it is one of our national languages and it is important to celebrate and learn.

Sarah

It would be such a privilege to regularly hear Te Reo Maori spoken walking down the street

Sarah

It has been on my wishlist for a long time to be able to speak te reo. . . this is a first step to making this a priority to learn more in 2020/2021. Our whānau has māori heritage (Ngāi Tahu) and I would hate for this beautiful language to die.

Sara

I am on my journey with Te reo Māori and learning about Te Ao Māori and the more I learn the more I realise the importance of this for us as a nation and this journey to truly create a bicultural Aotearoa. . . We also lost a beautiful hoa mahi this year who dedicated so much of his life to the reo and I know he was so joyful that I was on my journey and that we were continuing to grow in our knowledge of Te reo Māori and tikanga Māori as an office. . I am inspired to continue my journey and hope others will be too, wherever they are on theirs ❤️❤️🙌🏽🙌🏽

Sapphire

I am of ngati porou whakapapa, I know about my some of my whakapapa but have no contact with my iwi. I would like to learn more and be able to speak some te reo

Sandy

To show our support of Te Wiki o te reo Maori. Our school is 100% Maori, and so we need our children to hear Maori and speak Maori. Being able and confident to speak Maori what our school's Board of Trustees want for our students. Speaking te reo Maori correctly and confidently is also what our parents and kuia/koro in the community want for our students. Taking part in this initiative is a small step towards achieving our goals for our tamariki.

Sandra

I now try to pronounce Paraparaumu , Kapiti and Otaki correctly. I wish we had been taught correct pronounciation when I was at school all those years ago. I do not think I will ever be able to hold a conversation in Maori but would like to learn the names for things, i, e. flowers are putiputi, book is pukapuka. I am loving Stacey Morrisons pukepuka My first words in Maori.

Sandra

Te Reo is a toanga to be treasured and preserved. In learning the language you also learn about te ao Maori and in this way I believe we come closer to truly respecting and honouring each other.

Sandra

It’s all about normalising the use of te reo Māori

Sandra

Revive Te Reo Maori, value Maori culture, acknowledge te tiriti o Waitangi.

Sandra

He Waa tino motuhake, kahore ano au kia mahia i teenei mahi. E pirangi ana au kia oti.

Sandra

I would love to teach my moko, to korero as I have taught them some waiata and karakia kai

Cassandra

I am a migrant who has spent half of my childhood in New Zealand. Through those years, i have grown deep appreciation for te reo and the Māori culture. The constant effort that the hapori has put in to ensure that the Māori culture flourishes has influenced me to embrace a part of myself that I subconsciously hid due to the influences of colonisation back in my homeland; which is my indigenous roots as a Filipino. I am extremely grateful to be a part of a society that puts effort to keep the Maori culture alive. It has inspired others like myself to acknowledge our own indigenous roots, rather than hiding them with shame. Because of this, I am grateful for the Māori community for giving me this realisation. My way of saying “thank you” is to be an active participant of normalising the use of Māori greetings or phrases in New Zealand. I pledge to myself that I will be a part of the change and influence the future generation to embrace te reo and the Māori culture.

Sandi

Hey whakapiki, hei whakaora i te reo Māori

Sam

I think its important to embrace Māori culture and all do our part in educating ourselves with Te Reo Māori as much as we can.

Samantha

Personally, as a Kiwi Pakeha, I have felt cultureless. Tikanga and Te Reo Maori make me feel like I have a culture and I have a home. I also enjoy encouraging my co-workers to use Te Reo Maori in their practice.

Samantha

Good to always learn especially when it involves the history of New Zealand and it's culture.

Sam

te reo maori is important to nz. Needs to be revitalized and accepted again

Sam

I think it’s important we learn the language that formed this country and honour those who were first here. NZ needs to recognise its past and this a way of doing it that is super awesome

Sam

It is our second language and I teach children so they need educating in our native language.

sam

The reo Maori is a taonga to be treasured by all nzers

Sally

I am a kiwi but I never had the opportunity to learn Te Reo, nor the history of Aotearoa NZ so every opportunity now I am so grateful to engage.

sally

Being in Rotorua it's important to know the reo.

Sally

I am not fluent. I comprehend better than I speak. I get nervous sometimes. But it is part of my identity. Who I am and how others see me. It is my culture. One I feel, know and find strength in. Te reo me ona tikanga - two sides of the same coin. One side is shinier than the other for me. Being one in a million means I'm polishing the side that needs it. Growing in knowledge, connection to my whakapapa and celebrating our uniqueness here in Aotearoa.

Sally

Te reo is a treasure. Something all kiwis should be proud of, and I would be honoured to learn so one day I can teach it to my children

Sahra Ling

Although my ethnicity is samoan, my birthplace is NZ and part of my identity i believe is showing respect and gratitude to my country of birth. I respect the indigenous people, i respect the history and i am saddened that even in 2020 maori are still fighting for what is rightly theirs pre colonial times. I experience racism as a person of colour and i unite with my maori counterparts to fight against the system that has failed us. Its time to unite and speak up. All native languages is important to keep culture alive. If we dont use it (and teach it)we will lose it. I am learning more and more maori words and phrases through my work colleagues Tena koe-meeting someone for first time Ka kite-goodbye in person only (not on phone) Panui-letter Aroha mai-sorry Ma te wa-bye for now Hei kona - more appropriate bye on the phone

Saele

It's a vital part of being a NZer by acknowledging, respecting and advocating for the integration of Maaori in our lives. It's the roots of this nation and we need to recognise this with positivity and support the tangata whenua

Saba

te reo Maori is our native language and an official language of Aotearoa, so we should all be able to speak and understand it. I am proud of my country and language is an important part of that. I want to be able to speak te reo Maori more confidently.

Ryan