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'

The Maori language is beautiful, it is who we are as New Zealanders. We all need to embrace and use the language where we can. It is important the language remains a living language I have undertaken five years of learning in te reo in the past. and I still feel I’m a beginner. I am proud of my six year old mokopuna who is in a full immersion Maori class at her kura. Our Maori language growing and bring used in everyday contexts is also helping to reduce underlying racism.

Kay

I have enrolled in a Te Reo course through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa with my husband as we wanted to begin to learn Te Reo. We want to know more and be more culturally responsive

Jennie

Show support for te reo in schools and normalise speaking of te reo Maori

Jenni

It is important! ! ! As a secondary school kaiako, I have a responsibility to be the best possible role model I can. I am learning, we are learning.

Jenna

Humans are awesome (mostly - I mean some humans are a bit out there, but you know), and I love getting to know us in all our awesomeness. For me that means chatting to people about their homes, their whakapapa, where they come from, their mahi, what they are passionate about, aroha.

Jen

It's about time, te reo is fundamental to knowing we are all in the waka together.

Jeannette

The sense of pride that I see in my students in being able to share their culture with others is a valuable gift. Knowledge is power and I see the value in sharing a culture, our culture, that is rich in history!

Jeannette

Ko tēnei te reo taketake o tēnei whenua taurikura

Jeanne

To honour my committment as Tangata Tiriti, working in Partnership participation and protection of Te Reo

Jean

To celebrate Maori culture and share it with future generations

Jayne

There are so many reasons it is important to take part! This will shape our children's future and their opportunities available to them! Te Ao Māori has so much to offer us all!

Jayde

As a teacher, it is important for me that te reo Maori is seen, heard and celebrated in all Kura in New Zealand.

Jay

I feel Te Reo Maori is something everyone can benefit from. I feel it is a very spiritual language.

Jason

I think it is a beautiful language as well as how important it is for us to honour culture in New Zealand.

Jason

Because Te Ao Māori is what makes New Zealand, New Zealand. We should be proud of our bicultural heritage and we should all able to speak it.

Jasmine

Te Reo Māori gives me a connection to a lineage that I was connected to growing up then diconnected from when I moved overseas for 11 years. It's my path way back to my roots. I'm getting to know our language, my ancestors but most importantly MYSELF better!

Jase

Working towards one of my long-term goals - to learn Te Reo Maori!

Jaron

My colleagues, my tamariki. It's important for me to learn and to share the goodness of te Reo and te Ao Maori. As we do this together, our people will be enriched as we learn about each other and our language, therefore providing a platform to further unify our nation.

Jared

together we can breathe life into our language

Jared

I work in Wāhi Pātōtō (Fingertip Library) at Christchurch City Libraries. Our role is to assist our customers remotely by phone. I use te reo Māori consistently in my work. It's excellent to be part of and tautoko a movement that is uplifting the mana of reo Māori.

Janna

I think it's important for all New Zealanders to learn about Maori Culture and history. For a start I want to learn how to say the names of cities and towns in NZ the right way.

Janine

Notimea ka puta mai i Aotearoa. . . ahakoa e rua nga reo

Janine

Because iam maori

Janie

To become confident to speak Maori and to learn the basics for now

Janie

Because our language is a taonga. Everyone in Aotearoa should ideally be able to speak it or have the opportunity to. For with culture is values, a way of being and thinking, understanding and valuing people and those who are different from us etc. . .

Janice

Ko aku tamariki me taku whanau katoa.

Janey

I am trying to learn more about Maori culture and to speak Te Reo

Te Reo is a Taonga, unique to Aotearoa. As kiwis it is our responsibility to make sure this beautiful language survives.

Jane

Ki whakarongo au te Reo o tātou tipuna ia rā ia rā mō tāku mokopuna

Jane

I think being a teacher it is important that I am making Maori language alive and an every day normal for the tamariki in my care

Jane

To encourage maori language to our younger generation before its lost

Jan

I want to see us reach a point where the use of Te Reo, even to a small extent on some people's part, become normalised in Aotearoa. I would love to hear my name correctly pronounced everywhere. Small steps.

Jan

Te Reo Maori is an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand! We all have an obligation to learn it. As a teacher, I have a further obligation to the tamariki in my class to teach them. And its fun:)

James

Every Kiwi should be proudly bilingual in our two official languages. It's a disgrace that my generation (X) has only learnt a couple of phrases, a colour song and the first couple of lines of our national anthem in Te Reo after 12+ years of public school education. These are things that could be learnt in a couple of weeks: we should have left primary school fluent.

James

i was invited to take part, i didn't know the event was happening but im glad to be taking part. Since arriving in NZ, i have wanted to learn more about te ao Maori. I have completed several uni courses and majored in maori health as part of my undergraduate degree. I have learned some te reo maori (spoken and sign language) . I feel it is my responsibility as an immigrant/visitor/manahuri to do what i can to help promote and participate in events like this to ensure that te reo maori doesnt just survive but thrives.

Jamea

Because everyone needs to learn about it and not let it die off

Jake

To connect, show respect and feel confident to use it.

Jaime

It's symbolic but represents my respect for te reo Maori and its importance in Aotearoa.

Jae

I’m Māori - Te Reo was beaten out of my whānau and I want that undone.

Jada

It is so important that we acknowledge the cultural heritage of New Zealand. It is a country of incomers, so it has great potential to become a muddy mess of cultures. Te Reo is the language of the first people in this land, so by honouring the language we maintain the individual identity of our whole unique country. Even if you are not Maori, is the heritage of the country, so it becomes all our heritage.

Jacqui

To make a commitment to join in with making a better future for Aotearoa

Jacqui

Te Reo is a rich language and should be spoken

Jacqui

Motivation

Jackie

I am a kaiako Maori, and I have been doing this for 30years. It is who I am and it is my world

Jack

It is important to me that the Māori culture, my culture, isn’t lost in this country and my children grow up in an Aotearoa that embraces our dual heritage more than it did when I was growing up

Jacinta

As an Early Childhood teacher I am still learning a lot about Te Ao Māori the world and also implementing Te Reo Māori in my every day practice. As it is the culture here in Aotearoa it is important for me to acknowledge this and ensure children are being introduced to the culture and language if they are not already at home!

Jacinda

It's important to keep the Māori Culture, Tikanga, and language alive!

Jaana

We are the luckiest country who hard to use te reo maori as party of our life! !

Isobel

A commitment to Nz and myself.

isobel

It is important for me as a non Maori to show respect for Maori. I have the privilege to do so and it is so cool to be able to learn

Isabella

Aotearoa is becoming a very diverse place. Maori and speaking Reo needs to be at the forefront of everything we do! There needs to be a strong connection between the language, culture and those who reside in New Zealand.

Isaac

To share te reo with the tamariki and kaiako throughout the centre, educating those around with Maori language.

Iri

My mum is learning to speak te reo and teaching us because she doesnt want us to grows up like her with our te reo in her life.

Charlotte

I am taking up the plethora of opportunities available In these recent times that were never available in my callow youth. (Two years of Latin actually turned me off learning another language! I imagine where I would be if Maori was available in the fifties. ) I am Tauiwi and am many parts as a person and one of those parts needs to be able to communicate, understand and relate to tangata whenua and so my growth in Te Reo helps (and is helping) with that and alongside that helps me grow as a person. It also helps me promote the use of Te Reo with other Tauiwi by pronouncing words correctly and using phrases and words in context so that they assimilate the fact that we can all change and make progress in Reo Maori as well as attitude.

Ian

It's part of being a kiwi.

Ian

As a pakeha New Zealander it adds balance to the way I see myself in this land. It adds to my personal sense if identity as a kiwi.

Ian

It's an essential part of a vision to be a truly bi-cultural society.

Ian

While I am an immigrant to New Zealand I am proud to be a Kiwi and passionate about the Māori language and culture. As the leader of my school I am committed to the promoting the spirit of the Treaty by building our confidence and capacity to say and do the right thing. New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world which generally appreciates, respects and celebrates its original settlers and I want to do what I can to further strengthen this resolve.

Ian

I have only been living in Aotearoa for 14 years, but LOVE being part of a bicultural nation and recognise how important it is for our country to make sure te reo Māori is thriving! ! !

Christian

Well I just think that my culture is a big part of who I am. I am a Māori person. That's me, and by taking part, I'm able to express and show to everyone how much it means to me, and how proud I am to be a Māori.

Hyrum

Its valuable and essential to support te reo

Jo

I would love to be fluent in my own launguage, the Mana it would give me just knowing I can and teach my kids

Hula

To bring awareness, and to support a movement that is all for moving forward and learning.

Holly

kei te tautoko au te kaupapa hei whakanui ake te reo Maori i Aotearoa me te so katoa

H

It's my culture, and I care greatly about its strength and I love it wholeheartedly. It means so much to me, as I was constantly introduced to it in Kapa Haka, a whole story which allowed me to be free and express myself.

Hinemoa

It is part of my identity, my roots.

Josephine

Te reo Māori is unique and special to everyone who lives in Aotearoa. I want to treasure it and help normalise it as part of our every day lives.

Hilary

Ko te reo Maori te reo Rangatira! My whanau and I are all participants of the Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Maori movements. We hail from the Hokianga and always endeavour to reflect our values in what we do. Those values are based in our cultural world view and practice. Te reo Maori is a key to open the door to infinite richness and knowledge. Kia kaha tatou ki te reo Maori I nga wa katoa!

Herena

Whakanuia te reo Māori!

Hera

Father recently passed away and didn't take the opportunity when he was alive. I was too whakama to speak to him because he was a native speaker. He has heaps of writings and korero that I want to be able to understand. Using a dictionary does not give the true meaning of what he wrote and said.

Hera

Iti te kupu nui te korero - every little bit helps to keep te reo māori alive. Important to take part so that active participant and whānau see / feel that it is important to participate, no matter where you are in reo proficiency. Arohahaina te reo Māori - te reo Māori to me is my toto - DNA, Te Pū my origins and each kupu that i say, draws me closer to my origins, whakapapa.

Hera

My tamahine, so that their reo will not only survive but thrive! My tipuna, who were denied their reo so many years ago. Myself, for my wairua.

Sarah

Ko tōku reo tōku ohooho Ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea. Ko tētahi whāinga nui ki a mātou ō te kura nei i tēnei tau kia kaha te reo Māori ā-kura, ā-whānau, ā-hapori hoki. Heoi i timata mātou ngā kaiako ki te ako i te reo Māori i te timatanga o tā mātou hui-ā-kaimahi ia te wiki. I hoko mātou i ngā pukapuka nā Scotty Morrison mō ia kaimahi hei āwhina i a mātou ki te ako i te reo. Ka huitahi mātou katoa ō te kura ia te Mane ki te ako i ngā waiata me ngā tikanga Māori. Kei ia akomanga he ingoa hou (ngā rākau taketake o Aotearoa) me ngā tohu reo e rua mō ngā wāhanga o te kura. Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu. Mā tēnei me ētahi atu mahi kia whakapakari ai te reo Māori ki roto i tō mātou kura auraki.

Henderson South School

Te Reo Māori is a taonga tuku iho. As a pakeha I feel it is my responsibility to learn and use te Reo Māori to help revitalise it after the measure taken by pakeha nearly caused the loss of it. As a kaiako it is my responsibility to help my akonga, both Māori and pakeha appreciate and value this taonga. As a grannie to Māori tamariki I want my moko to understand their birthright.

Helen

Te Reo Māori is really important, and I want to help look after it.

Helen

I have lost me. Im on a journey to self discover WHO AM I. Where do I belong?

Helen

Maori people, language and culture have been marginalised for long enough. It's time to step up and be an ally.

Helen

I want to understand more than simple greetings in this beautiful language.

Helen

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Maori, mei kore ake ko te reo kia rere ka mate te iwi Maori, ara tatou nei nga tangata whenua.

Heleena

In Corrections we work closely with Maori every day and its important to be able to speak some Te Reo and have more knowledge of Tikanga in order to minimise causing offence to our Paihere.

Heidi

Maori is my culture, Maori is me. Without it, I dont know who I am. I find connection through my culture.

Heeni

To support my caulture

Heavenleigh

Because learning te reo Maori is a great way to connect to where I live, its history and peoples. It is enriching. I am also a doctor in an ED and knowing a but of Maori helps me connect to my patients, their whanau and my team, and helps me deliver more equitable, connected care. Mauri ora

Heather

It where I come from, a part of me. I want my moko to be able to hear it, speak it, sing it.

Heather

Personally, as a pakeha with nearly 200 years of whakapapa here in Aotearoa NZ (since 1823), I feel an affinity for Te Ao Māori, having wanted to speak Te Reo as a child. As kaiako of nga mokopuna I believe I have responsibility to encourage and facilitate an understanding of and love for Te Reo in their hearts and minds. As kaiako, I have a responsibility to practice my teaching with the principles and tenets if Te Tiriti O Waitangi - part of this is to nurture the language. Our ECE curriculum is bicultural, and thus there is professional expectation to support this for all our mokopuna.

Heather

To introduce Maori language and its culture to those willing to learn and participate.

Heath

to do more than just acknowledge te reo māori, to value and legitimise te reo māori as one of our official languages of Aotearoa. Te Reo Māori is the reo of aroha, when it is spoken the essence of te reo is manaaki and aroha. The use of te reo at mahi provides our patiences with a sense that we value and uplift tangata and culture of Māori. Taking part is to encourage others to join the mass embrace of te reo māori - it evidences the number of people affirming the reo, the culture and then naturally the people. The more people hear and see te reo māori, the more it becomes our daily practices.

TeAo

Because te reo Maaori is the language of Aotearoa. It is beautiful and unique and as a kaiako and parent I want to continue my journey with learning and teaching te reo and te ao Maaori to my tamariki.

Hayley

I studied Te Reo Māori language last year at Te Wananga O Aotearoa and it was just a amazing experience, I learnt so much and now I am passing my knowledge and experiences onto the other staff at preschool

hayley

I use Te Reo everyday in my home with my tamariki as I learnt Te Reo in school and believe it’s important for my tamariki to know as it’s apart of their culture

Haylee

Educate the younger generation about the importance of the language so going forward they can be better than we are in respecting and upholding Te ao Māori within society

Harriet

Part of my culture and my school

Harper

Kia takaro

Hariata

Because it is so important for not only māori to learn te reo in order for it to become as normal as English in NZ as it should be.

Hannah

Te reo maori should be used more by more everyday. It should be naturally apart of being a New Zealander 🇳🇿❤️

Hannah

As a kaiako at a high school with a large Māori roll it is essential to acknowledge those ākonga because of the bicultural foundation of Aotearoa.

Hannah

Participating in what's unique about this land

Hana

Important for our akonga to use Te Reo in their everyday world and feel comfortable doing so

Haley

For my children to live confidently and comfortably, as proficient bilingual speakers of te reo Māori and English, communicating in both languages during their day to day life

Haley

To be a part of the bigger picture. To nurture the language for future generations.

Hakaraia