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'

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

I want to show my support for ensuring that we keep Te Reo alive and beyond that, the use of Te Reo begins to thrive. Taking part is also part of my commitment to increase my own understanding of Te Reo and build my use of it everyday.

Melanie

The best way to understand a people is to understand their language. I believe this is the best way to foster true partnership between Maori and Pakeha, as originally intended in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. I would love to learn more te reo. I know just a smattering at the moment. I hope this is the year that my journey will pick up the pace!

Melanie

It's our official language and it is important to ensure that the language becomes a part of our everyday life and who we are as a nation. It makes me proud to be a kiwi. Apart from all that it is fun to learn another language.

Melanie

I am committed to bringing Te Reo Māori into our every day lives - it starts with one simple step :)

Mel

Te reo māori is a taonga, we need to NOT lose it

Mel

Te Reo should be a national language and this is how I can participate.

Mei Ling

To keep the importance of our language going. Maori language week should be hugely celebrated by all. It's a beautiful language and part of my Whakapapa/heritage and who I am as a Maori Wahine.

Megan

Hearing myself and others speak Te Reo makes my day brighter! It helps me to connect to everything around me.

Megan

Te Reo Maori is the original language of our country. We want to honour that by making it a daily part or our lives at home and in the workplace.

Megan

I am the only Māori nurse in ICU that can speak some te reo and a huge number of our patients are Māori. I am very passionate about taking care of our Māori whānau with better tikanga and saying peoples names correctly and where they come from is a good place to start

Mega

To be part of an import part of NZ culture and learn more about the history & meaning of the language.

meg

Love the Maori language and culture behind it. So important NZers embrace it, to better understand our country and its people

Meg

Te reo maori is an official language of New Zealand. As migrant I learned English but now it's time to learn another official language of New Zealand. After all we are in maori land and we need, by learning their language, understand their culture as its also New Zealand culture.

Maxime

My mum recently passed and te reo maori was important to her.

Max

To encourage myself and others to pursue learning the language and culture.

Matthew

Imagine if someone visiting from over seas had to learn some Te Reo Maori to get by in our country. If we all spoke Maori it would help define us and bring NZ closer as a population and country. Not to mention how beautiful the language sounds when spoken.

Matthew

because I'm maori and I want our language and our kaupapa for all kiwis to know, this is our land our tupuna gave to us and u think everyone should know this and understand this

Materoa

To appreciate a beatiful and vital reo for aotearoa.

Mat

I have had several attempts to learn Maori but need to continually commit to this journey.

Mary-Elizabeth

I think it is cool to be bi-lingual and this makes us a kiwi's unique

Maryann

My 6yo grandson is part Maori. He goes to a Kura kaupapa. He is excited to teach me some of his reo. I want to learn alongside him.

Mary

E tu au te turangawaewae . . .

Mary

I have Māori great grandchildren and want to learn te reo so I can speak the language with them. .

Mary

Maori are Tangata Whenua Te Reo Maori is an official language of Aotearoa-New Zealand He tangata whakapono ke ti tiriti Maori

Mary

I want to improve my ability to contribute to reducing inequity. Learning te reo and tikanga will help my understanding.

Dez Martin

It's important because as a pakeha NZer, acknowledging our dual heritage gives status to 'things Maori' and ensures that language and culture become willingly embedded in our identity.

Martin

I am a first generation kiwi and recognise that te reo as a taonga of the land of my birth and therefore is a part of my identity.

Martin

We should embrace all the elements that make us uniquely kiwi, and Maori language and culture is such an important part of our Aotearoa/NZ identity. Understanding and empathy are key to breaking down barriers.

Mark

It's important for our country.

Mark

As a Pākehā, helping Aotearoa with sustaining te reo Māori, matauranga Māori, and te Ao Māori, is one of the more important things I can do for our country.

Mark

To show respect to other languages and cultures

Mark

It’s important to me to honour the mana of this language as a carrier of the culture of maori. As a pakeha I am doing my best to bridge our cultural differences.

Marion

Good to learn different languages and plus Te Reo is NZ first language so I need to know some basics.

Marini

Its important to me because our language is our connection to our tipuna. Its important because I want our rangatahi to learn the language as there are so many not knowing our reo.

Maringi

I am newly returned to New Zealand, and I feel it important to do my part in acknowledging the value of Maori history, and learning Te Reo.

Marija

All of us need to act with cultural competency. We need to honour and respect our treaty partners. We are all learning, we need to learn and grow together Aotearoa.

Waimarie

Being united Celebrating and valuing our culture and heritage

Marie

Keeping our indigenous language alive to thrive is vitally important for this generation and those who will follow. Completing Te Reo Maori 101 was an incredible journey, the inspiring power and depth of Te Reo is amazing.

Marianna

Te Reo sounds beautiful- it is part of being a New Zealander

Marian

I believe in protecting and cultivating indigenous culture including its languages.

Maria

Reaffirm commitment to improve and grow in te reo confidence

Maria

It’s important working as a Māori Registered Nurse in a hospital setting to set an example to others, that’s why I am taking part

Maria

I am a Kiwi (by citizenship) and it is a privelege to learn the language of your country.

Maria

I believe that every body in Aotearoa has the responsibility and the obligation to help to preserve Te reo Māori. This is the moment, the opportunity, even if is just acknowledging someone with a Kia ora, tēnā koe, pō mārie. . . the smallest thing, everything counts, let’s try and make Te reo Māori being listened and spoken everywhere!

Maria

Being one small part of the million is contribution to the more important part of maintaining our culture, tikanga and te reo Māori. Ko tau rourou, ko taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi!

Mari

It is important that students become familiar with te reo as it is part of our Aotearoa history. It is also important to continue to keep moving forward with learning Māori language so we do not loose the momentum that has been created and to inspire others to learn the language.

Margo