Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Maori
Celebrate Maori Language Week

Date: Maori Language Week 26 July - 01 August 2010

 

Food theme for Maori Language Week 2010

 “Te Mahi Kai” - The Language of Food

 

 

 

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori (The Maori Language Commission) confirms that the focus for language promotions across the year will remain on activities and initiatives in communities. With that in mind the Board of Commissioners has decided on a food theme for Maori Language Week 2010 i.e. “Te Mahi Kai” – The Language of Food.

 
The key message for the language this year is encouraging use in communities. For this reason we have deliberately chosen an activity based theme to promote and widen spoken language in communities.


It is universally acknowledged that food as a culture and all the customs around it creates its own sense of community. It’s an appropriate means for disseminating a message about language therefore, and certainly from a Maori point of view, our own food culture, more particularly food gathering and preparation is a very central part of our identity.


We encourage a very liberal interpretation of the theme for this year because “te mahi kai” means not just partaking in a meal, but includes all the activity undertaken to create that meal, traditional as well as contemporary.


This can include hunting, diving, fishing, foraging, as well as shopping, through to food preparation in the kitchen. The language contained within just these activities alone is extensive, and provides a rich base for people and organisations to develop what we hope will be original and innovative Maori language initiatives and projects across the community.


Maori Language Week takes place from 26 July through to 01 August 2010 and resources will be available for purchase from mid-May.


For more information on Maori Language Week, (including resources) contact Catherine Sinclair on 4716 730, or refer to our website www.koreromaori.co.nz  

 


     



Maori Language Week is made possible with the support of: