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 is important to learn and understand our language and our culture as New Zealanders. It is a part of who we are and what underpins our identity.

Lisa

E pupiri ana ahau te whakaaro nei, he tāonga tuku iho mā tātou tūpuna. Te Reo, he wahanga ō tātou tuakiri.

paula

Since I have arrived in Aotearoa / New Zealand from Germany I have been very much intrigued/ fascinated by Maoridom and Te Reo. I think there is so much to share and learn from each other that no opportunity should be missed to get into action. Kore rawa e rawaka te reo kotahi.

Theo

I was born into a bilingual home; I know that my reo Pakeha became dominant, because that is what we were told to use and forced to use at school. My aunts and uncles would korero in te reo and pakeha, however moving away from my roots, I didn't loose my reo. Being amongst Maori speaking te reo just becomes automatic. It is a joy for me now, that my adult children are learning to korero - not because I forced them, but because they have come round to realising just how important it is to korero because you are Maori. And I especially love the little ditties that were turned into waiata with so much meaning in just a few kupu.

Pat

Kia ora, I'd love to learn more of our reo I was one of those who's mama and papa who never spoke in front of us when we were young. But when I became a teen they started to korero which to me was to late see I'm one of those slow learners lol. But I know a little bit but I do wish I was fluent . Nga Mihi

Gloria

I work in an area that is on a voyage to be more culturally aware, safe, responsible. I have always loved te reo Māori and this is an opportunity to practice and share that love.

Jane

I am passionate about learning Te Reo Maori. For me it's about honouring the Treaty of Waitangi and making sure this taonga is preserved for generations to come. It excites me to see a resurgence amongst our young people to learn and use Te Reo Maori in everyday life.

Ruth

I was lucky enough to have te reo Māori as part of school and having returned from UK I am so excited that it is becoming part of the mainstream. Hīkoia te Kōrero!

Anna

It is important for me to take part because I moved here 5 years ago from Canada to study teaching. I realised once I got here that although there are some serious problems and disperities in NZ in regards to Maori/Pakeha, it is A LOT better than the way things are between Europeans a d indigenous people back home and I am sad I never got to fully learn about and celebrate the native culture in my homeland. I feel an empathy for the people here. I feel a responsibility as a teacher and as an open minded individual to embrace te reo and te ao, so that I can help NZers be more united in the future, even if the different I make is only a small one.

Kate

To lead by example. To show my whanau this is important to me and that it should be important to them too.

Pauline

It's one of our official languages and as its the indigenous one I want to be part of the solution.

Heather

I have a new mokopuna and I choose to only speak to her in Te Reo.

Karen

its about stepping up to do the best I can , as an example for the wahine I work with. Its about me being me. mauri ora

Haami

Because it is a beautiful language and is fun to learn

Louise

Ko tōku reo, tōku ohooho; tōku reo, tōku mapihi maurea; tōku reo, tōku whakakai marihi.

Raihania

I feel it is important for me to increase my skills in Te Reo Maori. I live in a bicultural country and should be able to communicate in both languages.

Sabien

Embracing Te Reo Maaori is part of a shared journey that enriches all of our lives and our communities

Peter

It is important to raise awareness and learn about our culture, history and language. I want my class to also realise this.

Suzi

I think I should be one 'in five million' speaking te reo in this country. . .

Lisa

To acknowledge who I am.

Leonie Ngahuia

Te Reo is our heritage. .

Marion

It's important to me to take part, and encourage the ākonga and Kaiako in my centre to do so as well, because I think everyone living in New Zealand should have the opportunity and confidence to kōrero in te reo Māori. Māori language week is the best place to start.

Katie

It's important because te reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand.

Becky

Ko toku reo, no te kainga e ngaro haere ana te mita o taku turangawaewae.

Hirini

I want to promote and encourage others to learn and use Te Reo.

Yvonne

Watching BLM and doing some of my own work on being white made me realise I need to take more action at home in Aotearoa New Zealand to uphold the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and become a strong ally . I work in health and want to support the Wharerata Declaration working with a clinical and cultural approach in a meaning and respectful manner.

Karen

I'm Maori and can't speak enough te reo Maori

Ellen

It is our language, it is us.

Roz

I feel the revival has been a progressive but slow burn. Māori can be for everyone, and acknowledges our tupuna and our beginnings, as well as the way we walk together into our future.

Therese

I’m an early childhood teacher and I think this is so incredibly important and awesome.

Louise

It is important to value Te Reo Maori - New Zealand is the only country in the world that can maintain the language.

susan

It's important to embrace the Maori culture, since moving back to NZ I think it's time to get back to my roots.

Peita

I have just moved to Auckland as a Primary Teacher and work in a school which has taught me so much already about the importance of the Maori heritage and language. On my first day with the school we learnt about the local iwi whilst climbing up Maungawhau and it was fascinating to hear the history and culture associated with this important place. I feel a sense of responsibility in moving here to understand this better and do my part in helping to build a bi-cultural society. It also ties in with my interests in my own Welsh heritage back home, as similarly it has always been important to maintain those language skills and cultural ties.

Angharad

It's important because I wish to have a better understanding of the culture and tongue. I have young children and I want to be able to engage with them and learn with them. I work in a government department and we have a large maori population with us and I wish to be able to identify with them and be respectful to their culture.

Carrie

te reo Maori to me. . the Maori way is good in me. . . . .

Terry

It is important to take part because we need to treasure our languages. By using te reo Maori we are keeping the language alive in this land. We are also supporting the aspirations stated in our national document - Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Sonia

Because te reo should be heard and spoken in new zealand everyday. I am very much a novice, and want to improve, for many reasons, one being respect.

Gina

Fostering the culture and learning about ourselves and others

Emily

Because Te Reo is a taonga that must not be lost and as Kiwis I would love to see in the future us all be bi -lingual. And with learning the language I also found I learnt a lot about the culture and customs and the disastrous effects of colonisation on the Maori people which is something I strongly believe needs to be addressed and that Maori leaders should have the prime say in how this could be done. . . .

It's important to be a part of keeping Te Reo alive in its country and to champion diversity and inclusion

Sue

Because I am New Zealand European and of Ngāi Tahu descent, and am on a journey of discovering my identity, and knowing about my whakapapa and ancestry.

Raewyn

Kia Ora whānau, Its important to incorporate Te Reo into our everyday lives so we can normalize our Reo! Mauri Ora

sapphire

As part of being and Early Childhood Teacher we use Maori in our daily practice. We want to enhance what we already know and gain more skills to share with the tamariki.

Lyvania

Hei tautoko i te kaupapa kia rere ai te reo i ngā wāhi katoa o te motu.

Nicola

I believe and support the goals that Kia Kaha Te Reo Maori are aiming to achieve and I want to be able to learn more about my culture and who I am, as well as, helping, encouraging and supporting others through their journey as well.

Saphrone

As highlighted te reo Maori is unique. And to embark on a journey in which I am able to embrace a culture which has embraced me is a blessing

Saeni

I'm not a crowd person - but this is an exceptional situation. We should all have a working knowledge of the indigenous language; there's nowhere else in the world where te reo belongs.

Miss Dee

As a Māori (by nurture) and a New Zealander, I believe that it is important that we acknowledge our first National language. I am a believer that if we don't learn, promote and share our language then it will die out. It is the least we can do to celebrate and acknowledge this beautiful language.

Jaemie

As a white Australian, with English/Irish/Scottish/German ancestry, it's very important for me living in this country of Aotearoa to tautoko the tangata whenua by acknowledging them and the whenua through using te reo. Aotearoa issues a challenge to all peoples of the world to acknowledge the tangata whenua in every land and make amends for the terrible injustice perpetrated by some of my ancestors and my colonial culture. Speaking the indigenous language opens up my cognitive awareness so I can be more of who I am created to be.

Russell

As a speaker of Scots Gaelic, I understand the importance of the connection between language and land. When I moved to Aotearoa I vowed to honour that by engaging with te reo and learning as much as I could.

Georgia

I plan to play this Playlist in my classroom so my tamariki can learn these waiata and sing along. Me kaha te whakanui i Te Reo Maori ia te ra ia te ra

Shirlz

Ko wai a Ranginui? Ko wai a Papatunuku? Whangaia nga korero ki nga tamariki mokopuna

Kimberly

Learning much later in life that you still are looking for a true sense of belonging, only realising it was in front of you all your life. . . . that was my true lesson as a result I knew then it wasn’t too late too learn, believe in & grow in my cultural heritage trusting this to become apart of me naturally. I’m starting with Te Reo Maori.

Aroha

I am a proud New Zealander and I want to contribute to keeping the language alive.

Treena

This is my why, my Mokopuna whose first language is Te Reo Maaori and I am learning to try to understand and support them on our journey together.

Simone

He waka tohorā tōkī waka Ko Manaia tōkū maunga teitei Ko Hurupaki tōkū maunga Ko Wairoa tōkū awa No Whangārei ahau He wāhine o Tai Tokerau ahau I went to school in the 70s under the care of Hurupaki - which oversaw my early education. I was really lucky to get one hour a week of te reo with a specialist visiting teacher. This was supported by our regular teachers with the learning of waiata, kapa haka and pōwhiri. This could only have happened because of those wonderful people who stood up for the learning of te reo in the early 70s. Ngā mihi. In gratitude to those who stood up for the reo back then, I want to be part of the million who stand for the reo now, in support of the next generation.

Michelle

I am a kiwi, I was born and bred here in Aotearoa. I am not of Maori descent, however as a member of this community I consider it a privilege to learn the language of this land. I am a Cook Islander, if I went to the Cooks and people were speaking English instead of our native tongue our culture would die, and it is at risk now. I love the privilege of being tauiwi to this land, and believe that I can play my part by learning the language of this land and encouraging all NZers to participate. We will learn French and German in schools but not Maori? Bullocks! C'mon kiwi's lesssgoooo, the haka is not enough - it envokes pride in us all, I believe the language will too.

Moana

I believe Te Reo is vital in Aotearoa. We have many place names in Māori and I like to hear them correctly pronounced. We SHOULD pronounce our place names correctly. Also the names of so many of our citizens are Māori, which again should be correctly pronounced. This is the first known language of New Zealand and we cannot afford to let it die. It is a beautiful language and we should Celebrate it. I would not like to see ANY language die, least of all this language from our land. Kia kaha ki te korero Māori.

Rosalie

Keep the reo alive!

Sandy

I’ve always said I will call in and spend a day or so with mokopuna I can’t invite others because they may have the parents along b too many only a small place

Mereana

My tīpuna gave up the reo in order to survive. It's time to bring that journey back home and give our language its central place in this country. Because it's ours and it's ours to look after. Our knowledge is held in the reo. I am eager for fluency to open these doors for me, and lay the foundations for my children to go even further.

Alice

im proud to be of Maori descendant im pround of our Te Reo it is so humbling im proud of Maori world veiws an how they make us Maori people up we are bless to be surrounded by our Atia Maori everyday, we see, we feel them we appreciate our Atua everyday mauri ora ki te whaiao, rapuhia to tatau Maori, hei whakanuia pai marire. . .

Roimata

Kia ora e te iwi I am an instructor and adult educator based at Hawkes Bay Regional Prison. I currently run a course called Toku Haerenga Māori where instilling our department's Māori principles is paramount to myself my colleagues and the tāne in our care. Our course is modeled around the Departments Pathways and Hokai Rangi initiatives where as a kaiako I am bound and inspired to promote these on a daily basis. The below picture reflects the mahi my tauira create on their journey, the Model Marae is a practical element which reconnects our tāne with all that is Māori. Each marae is koha to a school as a learning resource where by we give back to the community but more so our tamariki . The Kowhaiwhai boards are designed around the 5 principles which govern their journey, Manaakitanga-Wairuatanga-Rangatiratanga-Kaitiakitanga-and Whanaungatanga. The smaller Kowhaiwhai boards are gifted to their respective whānau at the men's graduation, where we also hand over the Model Marae which is 2m x 2m to the respective principle of the kura it is going to. This is why our course want to be a part of Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori. Ngā mihi nui

Kyle

Kia mataara!

Kaikorai

My tamarikis

Stacey

Kia rangona te Reo Māori ki Aotearoa whānui!

Tukura

Part of being Pākehā is speaking Māori.

Tamsin

I want to do my part and learn Te Reo.

Kiley

So that I can talk to my mokos in the reo

Rosemarie

When we have other language "weeks" celebrating Samoan, Tongan etc languages, I always feel a deep sadness, mamae, for te reo Maori. I feel robbed of our language, which should be as fluently used in Aotearoa as English. It's not ok to justify this by saying. . "thats how it was back then"etc- The language was systematically stomped out. . land was stolen, and we are expected to just accept this? I am comforted in knowing a judgement day comes, I am currently reading (out loud! ) Nga Waiata (Psalms) one each day in both te reo and English and praying without ceasing for equity, and justice in Aotearoa NewZealand.

Melanie
christine
Paul
Helen
Zion

Kia ora

Amanda
Melanie

We should be proud as a country to speak our own native language.

Jackie-Jade
Krystal
moira

We feel being New Zealanders we should keep Te reo Maori alive to honour Treaty of Waitangi. Following Te Whaariki, the early childhood curriculum, we strive to make Te reo a living language within our centre.

Shamima
Olivia
Shane
Joe
Andrea
Jo
Theresa
Sophie

As a teacher in this country, I want to make sure that I am respecting the Tangata Whenua and te Reo, especially because of the wrongs of past teachers and my ancestors.

Emily

My mother was in the same boat as my dad and lost the te reo as it was never again spoken by her parents as they knew what would happen to their daughter if she were to speak her language out loud.

Jane
Wes
Ricky

Especially due to the history of it not being celebrated or even encouraged. It is also my opportunity to learn more for the future of connection and understanding of the place I get to call home.

Pearl
Julia

My pēpi, Mihi Moana, reminds me of the importance of kaitiakitanga and that we ALL have a role to play. We are all part of the NZ community and we all have a part to paly in living and breathing the changes we want to see for our future and the future for our next generation. We must acknowledge what has happened, how we have come to be here and what we will do to make tomorrow better than today.

Abigail
Di
Nadine

First started learning te reo at uni. I have been privileged to be able to use it a little through work. I would like to become a lot more competent and confident in speaking and understanding. It's part of us living in Aotearoa / NZ. Arohatia te reo! noho ora mai ra, naku, na, Bev

Bev
toni

We live in New Zealand and the native culture here is Maori.

Tohaline