25 July 2005
GIVE IT A GO FOR MAORI LANGUAGE WEEK 2005!
All New Zealanders are being urged to make a special effort to recognise the place of this country’s indigenous language for the 30th annual celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Maori – Maori Language Week.
This year’s event from July 25 to 31 will be supported by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori – the Maori Language Commission – in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission, Te Kahui Tika Tangata, and Te Puni Kokiri in an ongoing campaign to raise the profile, usage and value of reo Maori.
The Maori Language Week Awards will also be held for the second year in a row – on Maori Language Day, September 14 – to recognise and reward innovative efforts to support the week-long promotion.
The chief executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori, Haami Piripi, says the theme, ‘Korero Maori – Give it a go! Kia kaha ake!’, sets the tone, encapsulates the spirit and issues the challenge.
“With ever increasing interest from New Zealanders of all ethnicities, reo Maori continues to grow in both mana and popularity and is now a language widely used at work and at play, in sport and in the arts, in ceremonies and celebrations, and in many, many other ways every day,” Mr Piripi says.
“However, Te Wiki o te Reo Maori offers a great opportunity to make that little extra effort to participate in the regeneration and revitalisation of this unique taonga. Everybody, regardless of ethnicity, age or social status, can participate in this celebration of language – be it by brushing up on pronunciation, learning a few simple phrases of reo Maori, or by helping somebody else to learn.”
A range of resources are available from Te Taura i te Reo Maori including a second ‘Korero Maori – Give it a go!’ phrase booklet – this time focusing on kai or food – along with posters, maps, t-shirts, stickers and pens. The highly popular phrase book first produced last year has also been reprinted to meet demand.
Suggestions for celebrating Maori Language Week include learning waiata or songs; using ‘kia ora’ as your greeting in person and on the phone; organising fun events or promotional activities supporting reo Maori; placing bilingual signage around your office and home; and listening to Maori radio or watching ‘Korero Mai’ on Maori Television.
Entries close on August 15 for the four categories in the Maori Language Week Awards: media; business; central government, local body and public libraries; and community, school and educational institutions. Te Reo Tataki – Television New Zealand – won the supreme award at the inaugural ceremony last year.
“There’s no excuse for not participating in Te Wiki o te Reo Mäori,” Mr Piripi says. “It’s easy, it’s fun and perhaps most importantly, it recognises and celebrates what helps maintain Aotearoa New Zealand’s special place in the world.”
On September 14, 1972, a petition with more than 30,000 signatures was presented to Parliament calling for the introduction of Maori language in all primary schools. In 1975, Maori Language Day on September 14 was changed to Maori Language Week and later, it was moved to the last week of July to coincide with the school term.
Te Wiki o te Reo Mäori is part of a nationwide information programme, ‘Korero Maori’, which has been launched by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori with support from the Government through Te Puni Kokiri. For more information or a copy of the awards form, e-mail korero@tetaurawhiri.govt.nz or visit the website www.koreromaori.co.nz.
For further information, contact the chief executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori, Haami Piripi, on 04 471 0244; or ‘Korero Maori’ information programme co-ordinator Trevor Shailer on 021 352 556.