FROM THE EDITOR

Kia ora and welcome to Te Wiki o Te Reo Ma¯ori, Ma¯ori Language Week 2017. You’ll notice our masthead is a little different this week. We’ve chosen to embrace te reo in celebration of the week, and on Friday you’ll see an extra special edition of Te Tohu a Ta¯wera (the Northern Outlook) as we feature not only our language but also some of the history and culture of our region.

I expect there will be the usual argument that Ma¯ori is a dead language and it’s of no use off our shores.

But we’d argue that it’s at the heart of a uniquely rich and valuable culture that we, as Kiwis, can claim a right to. And why wouldn’t you?

It’s like having the crown jewels in the family and choosing to lock them away in a cupboard somewhere.

So keep an eye out for our special edition on Friday, and korero with your wha¯nau and tamariki.

You might even learn something.

- Shannon. EDITOR: Shannon Beynon, shannon.beynon@fairfaxmedia.co.nz; 027 497 3717 NEWS: Jonathan Leask; jonathan.leask@fairfaxmedia.co.nz; 03 311 8714 ; 027 403 0007; Kim Nutbrown; kimnutbrown@fairfaxmedia.co.nz; 03 311 8715; 027 807 1770; Emma Dangerfield; emma.dangerfield@fairfaxmedia.co.nz; 03 311 8710; 027 228 1851 DISPLAY ADVERTISING: 03 364 8285 ad.sales@press.co.nz CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: 03 377 8778 goclassifieds@press.co.nz OFFICE: 03 311 8702 ADDRESS: 6 Durham Street, PO Box 114, Rangiora 7400 North Canterbury’s largest circulating newspaper with 44,922 copies delivered every week.