Week a chance to celebrate

Ma¯ ori Language week has been celebrated each year from 1975.

Ma¯ ori Language Day is September 14 and commemorates the presentation of the 1972 Ma¯ ori language petition to Parliament.

Mahuru Ma¯ ori is an initiative begun in 2017 to promote the use of te reo Ma¯ ori throughout the month of September.

Why a week? Why not a year? Why not a decade? A century?

Because New Zealand is revitalising the Ma¯ ori language and a part of that is celebration of our success and promoting te reo Ma¯ ori.

Ma¯ ori Language Week is an opportunity for concentrated celebration, promotion and encouragement. And every minute of every hour of every day is a Ma¯ ori language minute — we can choose to use te reo — every time we do, even just a ‘Kia ora!’ contributes to revitalisation.

Te Wiki o te reo Ma¯ ori is becoming a major fixture on the national calendar providing an opportunity for concentrated promotion, raising awareness and giving an opportunity for expert and advanced speakers to encourage others on their te reo Ma¯ ori journey.

What can I do?

Ma¯ ta¯ tou katoa te reo Ma¯ ori e whakarauora:

Whakatauhia te reo Ma¯ ori ki te wa¯ hi mahi me te hapori

Whakahau i e¯ tahi atu ki te ko¯ rero, ki te ako hoki i te reo Ma¯ ori; whakauruamai hoki te reo Ma¯ ori ki to¯ u ao

Kia tika tonu te whakahua i te kupu Ma¯ ori i nga¯ wa¯ e ko¯ rero Pa¯ keha¯ ana Ahakoa iti, akona, ko¯ rerohia

Kia nui ake te ako ka ko¯ rero ai

Wha¯ ia te ara poutama o te reo ka tohatoha ai.

Everyone can contribute to te reo Ma¯ ori revitalisation:

Make te reo welcome at work and in the community.

Encourage others to use and learn te reo Ma¯ ori; welcome Ma¯ ori language into your life.

Pronounce Ma¯ ori words correctly when speaking English.

Learn a little, use a little.

Learn more, and use what you know. Keep improving your language, and share what you know.

M¯aori language week is an opportunity for concentrated celebration, promotion and encouragement.