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'

My [Māori] father was adopted into a tauiwi whānau so for both him and I growing up we didn't get to experience te ao Māori. I've learned a bit through study at uni and continued on in my mahi. I've just had my baby and I'd love for him to learn about his whakapapa, including the reo. We'll encourage him to be bilingual as much as possible. My parents are on board and continuing to push themselves in their reo journey too.

Olivia

We live in Aotearoa! Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa. We need to respect the language and culture of the whenua. If we don't continue to uphold the language and culture then it will be lost.

Oliana Eniata

I want to honour this beautiful culture. As an immigrant I know how important identity is and I pray that Aotearoa will nurture what makes it unique which is te reo Māori.

Olga

Ma runga tatou te waka reo. Me takakawe tatou ki te pupuri, ki te whakaora te reo me whakamahi ai i nga wa, i nga wahi katoa kia Maori noa iho.

Nopera

I would like to converse with my mokopuna who already has te reo maori, i am already on a course for Te Reo Maori, but to be able to do this will only extend and re enforce what i am learning.

Noeleen

It’s important to me because I want reo to be a part of me and my everyday.

Nivana

He Ngati Raukawa ahau

Niva

My tūpuna were oppressed into not speaking their own language and being a rangatahi of the next generation I feel I am obliged to carry the tikanga and reo in order to gain back our culture.

Nirvana

I want to be a part of a movement that ensures we keep our taonga that is Te Reo. I want to show my kids that it's cool to korero.

Nina

It is great to be a part of this language and culture. Even though I am non Moari, I feel a sense of belonging by being part of this Aotearoa.

Niloufer

As a teacher it is super important to learn the language of NZ.

Nikki

we are on a mission to embed authenticity, context and strategic intent into our organisation around how we use, engage and respect Te Tiriti

Nikki

It's important for me to take part so I can celebrate my ancestors and keep the reo alive within me and rhaie around me.

Nikki

Language is part of identity and culture. We need Te Reo to grow our Hauroa.

Niki

Everyone in Aotearoa should be about to korereo Māori at least a little bit.

Nicole

just want to be part of the movement by supporting it

Nicole

Our school has many bicultural learners, it is so important to recognise heritage in our school environments to set inclusive and caring experiences for our tamariki.

Nicole

To recognise my Maori heritage x

Nicole

My chosen sister is half Maori, I love her and would love to learn more

Nicola

As a New Zealander and a teacher it is important for me to keep learning Te Reo Māori. Growing my own understanding.

Nicola

Not being Maori is not an excuse. If you go to Spain you are expected to know and speak Spanish, so why not Maori in New Zealand. I've been in this country longer than the country that I was born in, but I respect and love the Maori people and want to show my appreciation by becoming fluent in Te Reo. Thank you for everything that you are doing.

Nicky

It’s important for us all to remember and acknowledge the beautiful language of Aotearoa even if we don’t/can’t all speak it. The more we hear the more we will learn.

Nicki

Keeping the beautiful reo alive in Aotearoa.

Nick

To be an ally

Nicholas

Te reo māori is an important part of New Zealand culture and our national identity. It also gives Māori students a sense of belonging and lets them know their culture is important in New Zealand

Nic

As a pakeha Maori culture has given me so much to be proud of in NZ, and I want to be able to give that back, to do what I can to amplify that part of Aotearoa that I et so much from.

Nic

I am Māori and in a position of being a tumuaki at our school. We need to model to our tamariki that our reo is integral to our sense of belonging.

Ngatai

Because I’ve lived in Australia for so long and have now met my partner who is Australian, I think it’s beautiful to share who I am with him and that includes sharing my culture.

Ngapeita

Kia whakakaha ai i te rere o to tātou reo ataahua ki tēnei whenua o Aotearoa! E kaha rere ana te reo ki tōku ao, ā, ko tāku he tautoko i te rere o te reo ki te motu whānui

Nganeko

i have always believed Maori language is important to me and my whanau as it is our heritage, however, it is not accepted as valuable by many people, even in my own family. It is also not spoken enough in general to help most of us continue to use it. Continued immersion in oral and written language is important to help any language become more familiar.

Ngaire

Now that I am living in NZ I believe that I need to learn the native language of the country.

Neranja

i used to be quite capable of speaking te reo as a teenager. . now as an adult i'm re=learning

nelly

Ki te ako õku hoa mahi ki te whai te reo maori oti ra ki te korero I te reo maori I na wa katoa. . .

Nathan

It’s important to keep language alive.

Natasha

I haven't used my reo or te Ao Maori since I moved to Kerikeri 2 years ago. I am a qualified preschool teacher who was very passionate about it since graduating and whilst working. I've realized that if you don't use it, you lose it.

Natalie

Because we are New Zealanders - Te Reo Maori is one of our 3 official languages!

Natalie

It is a beautiful language and I am trying to upskill my knowledge of Te Reo Maori and tikanga to show pride in my country and it's heritage.

Natalie

Connection to my whānau

Nat

I've been lucky enough to live in privilege for most of my life, and one of the most common ways that privilege has been able to express itself in my life is through the blatant misuse and manipulation of Te Reo Maori into a warped version of itself, without any of the respect the language deserves. I don't want that privilege to be a part of my life any longer.

Nat

Kahungunu tangata reo, Kahungunu tangata ora!

Nic

Because it joins me up with others and being in a group is stronger than being separate, and because it feels a bit risky for me (as a beginner) but the language is at risk and so I think I can take on a little risk for it’s sake.

Naomi

I live in Australia. I am away from home. I yearn for home.

Naomi

I Want to be part of the drive to keep this beautiful language flourishing. It is so important for Aotearoa NZ - for the tangata whenua and us manuhiri - all of us who make up this nation - to be able to speak at least to some Level, the reo that is only spoken here and through which we learn so much about each other. A friend in class last week pointed out to me that there are 16 ways of saying ‘our’ in te reo Māori (that we had learned by this stage in our journey anyway) vs 1 way in English. What does that reveal about what is important in Te Ao Maori? Relationships, relationships, relationships - or he tangata, he tangata, he tangata. It’s like an object lesson from within the reo itself. Beeeeeaaauuutiful!

Naomi

Because if our bicultural partnership. It’s special and we need to do as well as say.

Naomi

It couldn't mean more to me, it is my identity, the pursuit of Te reo has given me strength in my identity as a wahine Māori, a deeper understanding of who I am and a deep pride in my whakapapa!

Naomi

Because I live on this land and I want to do my part to honour the language of the real Kaitiaki of the land. Also, I want my students to understand the importance of honouring and learning the language of the land on which we live.

Nadya

For my family school

Nadene

He taonga tuku iho nā o tātau mātua tīpuna. Koia tonu te tatau ki tō tātau ao Māori, ko te tuakiri o tātau te iwi Māori.

Nadell

Te Reo is an important part of Aotearoa's cultural identity and we all have a part to play in ensuring future generations benefit from this rich treasure.

Naca

To show respect and to connect with the language of Aotearoa

Mya

As a teacher, learning more te reo and gaining more understanding of the language and culture is important to me

Monique

cause it it who I am

moetu

I want my tamariki and myself to become confident speakers of Te Reo Māori, so I believe any little step we start taking now will produce bigger gains for us in the future

Moerangi

It is important to not lose the Māori culture and Te Rio Māori language. I am a traveler 'stranded' after coming to visit in February. I am excited to participate in Māori language week. I have picked up a few words from traveling Iwi, Kai, mahi, whānau and Haka.

Moeby

Maori is our identity it is our culture we must celebrate and encourage everyone to speak our native language.

Moana

I’m proud to be Maori and would like to speak it more everyday. Normalising it fit our children and children’s children to keep our reo alive. It grounds me and gives me a belonging.

Moana

As a maori language learner living aboard and away from home, it helps me to show thanks to those that have fought and continue to fight to keep our language alive.

Moana

Hi, I love my whanau and want to support and be part of my Iwi. Many members of my family speak Te Reo fluently but I really struggle. I grew up largely ignorant of my Maori and it wasn't until I travelled the world that I realised how unique and amazing our culture is. I would like to learn more about my tribe's history. I am proud of who I am and where I came from.

Mistie

To be able to better support my 5 year old in kura and actively help him with his reo and learnings of our tikanga and culture.

Mischelle

Because if I don't stand now! Our mokopuna will still be fighting to have this in years to come. Our language is a huge part of who we are as Maori.

Miriama

Learning Te Reo Māori is a life long journey that happens step by step. . . everyday in another way.

Miriama

Te Reo is part of my heritage and I want to to be celebrated and supported

Miriam

I'm proud to be maori.

Millicent

To keep the Maori language alive

Mike

Ko Māori tōku ao

Mike

This is our national language - if don't make it part of us then who will?! ?

Mike

I like maori culture. . .

Mike

Kia ūkaipō anō te reo Māori 💛

Mikaia

Because when my parents went to school they were hit for speaking Maori whilst there.

Mihi

To help schools earn more money to help learn Maori

Miharo

Te Reo is a beautiful language and it’s a wonderful journey of self discovery.

Michelle

As a classroom teacher I need to be seen learning and speaking in te reo.

Michelle

To be able to communicate with others even if it is in a small way. The older I am getting the more I yearn to be like my whanau in Rotoiti. Just being able to understand and be part of the conversation would make my day. Also so I can perhaps encourage my children to do so as well.

Michelle

Why wouldn't you? Everything can be achieved by valuing te reo Māori

Michelle

As an immigrant wanting to be a citizen, I think it is of utmost importance to immerse myself in the culture and the language, especially because I am studying to be a teacher as well as I have taken on tamariki whāngai.

Michelle

Koorero Maaori mo te Ao katoa.

Michelle

Love the beauty of this language and would love to learn to speak it more. It’s an important part of our country.

Michelle

Because I'm a new zealander

Michelle

Because it's important to NZ in keeping te reo alive for our future generations.

Michele

Educated when Te Reo Māori was not taught in schools so trying to educate myself. My country is Aotearoa, Te Reo Māori is one of my country’s official languages. . . on a slow journey to be bi- lingual and know/ understand my family’s world

Michele

Support Te Ao Māori

Michael

Te reo is a great carrier of culture. Although I am a Scottish born New Zealander, we all have a duty to support the life of te reo and respect it as the first language of this nation. Maori culture has a lot to teach the citizens of Aotearoa and the more we learn the more we contribute to creating a different present and future that in some way may help rebalance the devastation of the past.

micha

so i can speak te reo when im older and so i can speak te reo with my nana

mia

Because i’m Māori and it’s important to know my tounge.

Haemia

Kia maimoatia to tātou reo, kia rongo ano hoki wa tatou tamariki/mokopuna I te reo e rere ana I ngā mahi, I ngā wā katoa

Meretuahiahi

Our rangatahi have been going to the Hikoi in Wellington to launch Te Wiki o te Reo Maori for the last few years now and now that it has been cancelled, due to COVID, we feel that we should support this 'moment as well. We are proud to be from Wainuiomata and are proud of our culture and our languages.

mereana

Kia hoki maito tatoutaonga Te reo Māori. Karongo mātoutātou tamariki kōreo Māori anai te ap ite pō.

Mereana

Part of my whakapapa so want to protect and pass on to our next generations

Mereana

Because Te Reo is an important part of who I am.

Mere

To reclaim what has been lost by my whanau. Through the forced assimilation of Māori, we lost our language, I want it back.

Mellissa

We are a bi-lingual country

melita

Nō te mea ko tēnei taku tuakiritanga.

Melita

It's our language, and we shall all be part of making it our everyday language. . . so to do this we need to start! And what a great way to start! 14 September 2020.

Melissa

My drive to participate and to learn, grow and share more ye reo Māori is to help normalize out national language. I thrive of the tamariki using it, and their parents asking more about what there tamariki are saying

Melissa

I have been learning te reo Maori for 4 years and am growing in confidence and would love others to have a chance for a similar journey

Melissa

I’m part Maori and even though I’m white skinned I feel a connection to Maori along with wanting my children to. My children’s Koro and kui kui are fluent and I would love my children to know enough to have a conversation one day

Melissa

Te reo Māori is one of NZ languages it would be nice to hear the language spoken everyday. I have just started my learning journey I have a long way to go but I hope to make a difference with the little bit I do know and I wish I had started my journey I long time before now. Ngā mihi

Melissa

I have always struggled to learn the reo. I currently work in a maori kaupapa mental health organisation where karakia, himene, moteatea and te reo are done/spoken daily. Knowing and learning everyday brings me strength as a maori wahine and makes me proud of my heritage. My daughter attends a kura where the reo is spoken in both the full immersion and the rumaki reo classes. For me to learn and be strengthened is one of the best gifts I can pass down to my daughter. I am still learning but I am enjoying the path I am on and if I can be strengthened imagine what it could do to others.

Melissa

I love learning Te reo and taught it at school while I was teaching before having my pēpi a week ago - I enjoyed celebrating Te wiki o Te reo Māori at school and will now celebrate with my wee one at home!

Melissa

Keeping the reo alive, especially for my tamariki. A celebration and acknowledgment of who the are the this gift of language I can share with them

Mele