This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, a time we set aside every year to promote and celebrate the beautiful Māori language.
Over the last 200 years, te reo Māori has had its ups and downs. For a time, te reo was the predominant language spoken in Aotearoa. As more English speakers arrived, te reo increasingly became confined to Māori communities. Major initiatives were launched from the 1980s to bring about the revival of te reo, which led to Māori becoming an official language of New Zealand in 1987.
Te reo Māori is so important to the Māori identity, and its preservation and revitalization are a high priority throughout Aotearoa. Te reo Maori is a taonga ('treasure') of Māori, guaranteed under the Treaty of Waitangi. There are Māori-language schools, radio stations, and television channels. For the last 44 years, te reo Māori has also been celebrated for one week each September. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is an opportunity for concentrated celebration, promotion, and encouragement for the entire community. This year, the theme for this week is 'Kia Kaha te Reo Māori' ('Let's make the Māori language stong').
The week will feature celebrations around the country. There are events going on nationwide this week, so check your local papers, Facebook, and other events sites. There are also several events going on in Christchurch throughout the week at the Christchurch City Libraries, University of Canterbury, and Christchurch Art Gallery. Keep an eye out for events around the city!
We can always make time to consider what we are doing and what we could be doing to promote revitalization.
Mā tātou katoa te reo Māori e whakarauora:Everyone can contribute to te reo Māori revitalisation:
Please remember, every time you use te reo, no matter how small, you are contributing to its revitalization.