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'

To be close to my culture and family

Amber

I am a pakeha ECE kaiako and I want tamariki to experience the language that is unique to our country.

Amanda

Our children need to see through example the importance of Te Reo and by respecting and valuing our country's language and customs hopefully shows the maori children and others in my class how much I value and respect them. I hope it also gives them confidence and strength to give their best everyday.

Amanda

It is important to ensure we build te reo so we don't loose te reo. Our rangatahi will help build te reo's profile! !

Amanda

Respect for Te Tiriti o Waitangi and bicultural NZ.

Amanda

Because te reo Māori is one of the things that makes NZ special, and so it should be celebrated and normalised.

Alwyn

Te reo Māori is an incredibly beautiful language and am loving being on this journey. The normalisation of te reo Māori is also important to me as a kaiako.

Allison

It is important for Te Maunga to be part of the Māori Language Moment as we are actively working to incorporate more Te Reo into our day to day lives.

Allie

So the language of our first people is not lost.

Allan

As a pākeha, I passionately believe that Te Reo should be taught, celebrated and promoted as the ataahua language that it is and all it represents! Kia kaha!

Alice

This is important to me as I am a descendant of Ngapuhi. When I was younger, I never had the opportunity to learn so what time is better than the present. I hope that we make the million mark bec

Alex

I think it's a really important part of New Zealand culture. I am pakeha and sometimes I feel like the language barrier makes it easy for me to not actively seek out Maori culture and essentially put a massive part of the culture and history of New Zealand in the 'one day when I get round to it' basket. And so, I want to try and change that.

Alexandra

I have grown in Aotearoa and have learned do many words over my life but still cant make a sentence, my goal is too achieve a simple conversation with ease, that is my happy goal.

Alejandra

Its time for me and the other many to make reo a everyday occurrence. . . . . . . . it is a important part of Aoteroa

Albie

Because its who I am, Its apart of me so embrace it, learn it and move forward with it to better educate our tamariki.

Alana

My self and My Tamariki are my why. I was someone who was brought up in Te Ao Maori me ona Tikanga as the years went by I lost my self. I now have 7 tamariki who are constantly asking me to teach them Te Reo and everything and anything to do with being Maori. It is time I stop being Mangere and Teach my tamariki and find my way back to the world I belong in.

Ahoroa

I would like to gain confidence and understanding of Te Reo so I can korero at home and in the workplace.

Agnes

Because I'm proud of my people and reo

Adrian

It is essential for kaiako to provide a bi-culutral environment, working in partnership and living te riti o waitangi, and "keeping the Maori language alive"

Abby

Because te reo is one of the most important taonga we have in Aotearoa.

Abbey

I've always wanted to learn te reo but "life" got in the way

Aaron

Its important to me as a Maori that our language lives on for our future generations to come

Hineipaketia

He take nui te reo, Te Reo Maori ki ahau na te mea, he taonga te reo na a matou matua tupuna. Ko te reo ki ahau te orokohanga o te motu o Aotearoa. Ka tika me whakanuia i te kaupapa nei me rangona kia ora mo ake tonu. mo a matou Tamariki Mokopuna.

Letisha

We are lucky to live in NZ and to have the Māori culture. This culture however needs to be authentically elevated and interwoven through all of NZ society, the language and understanding of Te Ao Māori, Tikanga etc is vital for all New Zealanders to know, understand and respect.

Gabrielle

Te reo Maori is 'our' language in Aotearoa NZ - we all have a responsibility to ensure it thrives and is part of every day NZ

Jo

Te reo Māori is Aotearoa’s language, we should all know the basics at least.

Margie

It's the first and native language of Aotearoa and my husband and kids are Māori. We're all actively learning, including our 5-year-old being in bi-lingual at school. Our agency is Māori-owned, so it's something we want to celebrate.

Laura

Kia kaua to tatou reo e rite ki te moa! kia korero maori i nga wa katoa.

Pikiteora

I would like to improve my own knowledge and skills in Te Reo so I can confidently integrate the language into my every day life

Rachel

As teachers/parents/and people of Aotearoa, we work hard towards building our reo and sharing this with our teaching community.

Dallas

From my students: I used to be illegal - we are trying to make it come alive again We want it to come back properly. It used to be the only language. Every year there's a celebration of every culture. It's our unique language. It's good to learn about the history of different countries. It's also nice to have the experience of learning another language.

Kapa

It's important to me to take part this year because it's small actions that make a big difference. If we hear te reo, see te reo, share te reo more, it will be a bigger part of our life. I want that for me and I want that for future generations. It's the right thing to do.

Catarina

I have a deepening respect and awareness of Maori heritage and culture, and want to continue to learn.

Nick

Because I care deeply about supporting the indigenous people in this land to be able to realise their tino rangatiratanga, in all areas, especially health.

jenni

Ko tōku Reo tōku oranga. He oranga tonutanga mō tātou te iwi Māori mō ōku tamariki ki te kura, mō ōku ake tamariki hoki.

Marge

To support the indigenous language of our nation

Rosei

I married into a Maori whanau & have 2 beautiful tamariki who I want to tautoko & help fill them with mana about being Maori!

Dani

My why is my Tupuna, my whakatupuranga, my wairua.

Trudy

Knowledge I want to learn

Jeneane

We live in Aotearoa and Te Reo is a beautiful language and an important part of the culture here. Mostly its because I value Te Reo as part of our society going forward. . . its respect and a long time coming. I wish I had learnt it at school.

Linda

Language is a taonga, and it is a privilege to receive an invitation to share this gift. Te reo Maaori is increasingly becoming part of NZ mainstream culture. I have noticed immigrants embracing te reo as a way to feel included as "kiwi".

Maureen

Te Reo is a poetic, beautiful language that needs to be celebrated and woven deeper into the fabric of our society.

Sonya

I have a special connection to this kaupapa. My nanny taught me and my sister te reo māori in our home in the late 70's early 80's. She passed away when I was 7 years old and my whānau were not equipped to carry this taonga on for us so we then lost our ability to kōrero. However I always had the passion for learning te reo māori. Now as a māmā, nanny and a wife we believe we can normalise te reo māori in our home and support friends and whānau to learn, speak and live te ao māori i ngā wā katoa:) Mānuka takoto, kawea ake! I accept this challenge! !

Francie

I want my children to be proud of their own Māori inheritance and I want to learn to be more confident with te reo Māori when speaking in public. Māori is Aotearoa's indigenous language and should be cherished as such.

Lynda

As a kaiako in the Early childhood sector we work from a bi-cultural curriculum and it is important to us as a centre to be active in supporting our tamariki in te ao Māori.

Gina

It is important to me because I value the bicultural history of New Zealand and the connection to my whakapapa that I gain when I incorporate Te Reo into my everyday communication. It is important to me as a Educator to uphold the values of Treaty of Waitangi and ensuring my Maori rangatahi feel valued and supported within my Kura.

Marisse

So I can grow in my knowledge and understanding of tikanga, kawa and Te Reo.

Bridget

Te Reo Maori is a beautiful language and it needs our support. Also it helps to give mana to Maori which is very important as the Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa

Roger

To get involved in Maori Language week and learn something new.

Segie

I never knew Te Reo growing up and being a mum I want my child to embrace her culture. When she learns I learn and so forth. Always encouraging correct pronunciations where I work to.

Aj

My reality is that my friends are all raising their babies to speak reo. I want to ensure that even as their non-Māori aunty, that I support keeping Te Reo alive. I also want to see my colleagues engage in using Reo more than just a token 'Kia Ora' here and there.

Shannan

We should celebrate our unique and beautiful Maori Culture, language, and history every day so that new generations grow up being proud of our people and live in a country that has equal opportunities for all.

Moana

Because It is my culture and my heritage that has been lost through the generations, I think it of it as a privilege to speak the language, all my cousins and older and younger can speak it and it makes me feel left out so I want to learn my reo.

Emma-Lee

I firmly believe that learning te reo māori is beneficial to ALL of Aotearoa, as we Māori look at revitalising our reo as well as our stories.

Truby

Nā Tā Hēmi Henare te kōrero, "ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori. . . " This whakatauākī is my reason to take part, my reason why. Te Reo Māori is more than a language, it is whakapapa, it is whānau, history, traditions, and the very essence of what it means to be Māori.

Ngawini

The Maori language is part of our heritage and culture in New Zealand and I would like to be able to use it in order to honour that.

Caroline

Why, is our whanau and Moko, also we resonate with the Tikanga, Manaaki, wairua and te reo Maori as a way to live. We are enjoying learning and it connects us with our Maori whanau and encourages our non Maori whanau to learn so connects us all and brings us closer together.

Christine

Te Reo contributes to Aotearoa's unique place in the world and we must help it flourish!

Peggy

Te reo Maori deserves to be spoken, heard and loved

Helen

To ensure that our reo flourishes and is maintained for our future generations.

Wihapi

Kia whāngai i te kākano na tūnohunohu mā i whakatō. Kia puawai mai te kākano rā hei kitenga mo te ao. Ko te reo me ona tikanga, koia te kākano e korerotia nei e au.

Hikawai

Te Reo Māori is the beating heart of the foundation of this land. Promoting this beautiful language and being part of a movement to make it not a novalty to speak Te Reo Māori on a regular basis.

Sophie

It's really important to our identity and keeping the language alive. Lots of pressure is put on the small number of people who know our language. It's important for the rest of us to help.

Bryan

Ko te reo te mauri ora, e taea ai te kī - He Māori ahau!

Te Kamaka

We want to inspire our tamariki to use te reo and keep the language alive! We have a decent sized platform to share and promote Māori language with our whānau

Kelsey

It is one of our National languages and the language of the native people of Aoteroa. I have whakapapa to Waikato so Māori and Te Reo Māori has a special place in ny heart.

Jenna

We must keep our language alive and provide inspiration to our younger generation x

Jodahn

For my kids- to show them that to korero Māori is an important part of being a New Zealander and should be a normal part of everyone's life 😊

Jen

For my children who are of Maori decent

Rebecca

Te reo enriches New Zealand, it's important to recognise its significance and play a part in making te reo part of daily life and conversation.

Alaina

As a migrant in this country it is important for me to honour mana whenua of this land and their reo.

Anabel

I want to communicate with them.

Joseph

Always wanted to be more comfortable with te reo Maori and this is a great opportunity

Kath

I believe it is important to acknowledge and preserve Maori culture, customs and language.

Pam

I no longer what to be ingnorant.

Janine

As i come from a maori family its important to build my relationship with my ancestors

Brooklyn

Because it is the indigenous culture of Aotearoa therefore it is part of our Kiwi culture and who we are.

Andrea

Keen to futher my knowledge of Maori

Nesan

For my friends

Jess

To be successful in bi-cultural practice at work

diane

Because I live in New Zealand and its part of our history

Emily

te reo Māori is unique to NZ, if we lose it here it's gone forever. I lived in Wales for several years, everything was bilingual from road signs to ATMs - I would love to see that here!

Rebecca

I hae a random reason: I just really like learning languages:) I remember listening to a course of lectures on linguistics by John McWhorter and he mentioned that te reo Māori is the best example of language revitalisation in the world. I thought that, well, since I call this country my home now, I want to be a part of it by learning it's language:)

Polina

As an educator I recognise how important it is for us to teach and normalise Te Reo in our country.

Carolyn

To acknowledge the journey and actions people took 40 years. I want to be part of learning and keeping Te Reo Maaori alive.

Dianne

My children are Māori <3

Kate

Im doing this for my friend Arwen who encouraged me to sign up

Anita

I believe that Te Reo Maori is an important and unique part of our culture in Aotearoa and I want to see it grow in it's use and understanding by those who live here. It is also a key component of Te Tiri o Waitangi

Dian

It is Aotearoa and it is our language to embrace and maintain.

Rachael

I need to get over my previously bad experience and get familiar with te reo maori This is important, I had wanted to learn the maori language since I was form 2 but due to bad experience (bullying) it really shook my confidence

Vanessa

Im doing this for my friend who is so supportive of the maori language movement

Sophie

All languages are precious. I used to teach Maori to school kids.

Kate

Doing this for my friend Arwen who encourages me to learn more te reo

Abi

growing the language

Sophie

Coming from a different culture myself, it's important to go back to the roots and to not forget the culture and the language of where we came from.

Alyrra

Maori is a language unique to Aotearoa, and it is up to all NZers to keep this reo alive so we can pass this taonga on to future generations I also want to increase my cultural awareness and honour the indigenous people of this land to in some small way repay the debt of privilege I have received as a pakeha from historic colonisation .

Kristin

So my daughter understands the importance of this language for all New Zealanders as she grows up in Aotearoa

Kirsten

There's two main reasons I'm learning Te Reo Māori. The first is to help me to reconnect with my Māoritanga and the second is so that my boy doesn't grow up without the reo like I did. It's very exciting to see so many people participating.

Tarryn

for my whanau and friends

Paris

Because the Treaty being ‘lived’ out in Aotearoa between Māori and Pākehā is the basis for a flourishing New Zealand. I would love to see Māori being able to express and lead how they see racial justice, equity and reconciliation looking in Aotearoa and then Pākehā (putting my hand up 🙋🏻‍♀️) getting alongside to do that with Māori.

Nikki