Seven ways to celebrate Te Wiki o te reo Māori

Thursday, 6 September 2018

One look at this and you’ll realise why I’m writing a column, not presenting on Te Karere.

Sarah Moore is taking part in a 12-week te reo course in an effort to show her irāmutu (niece) her whole family values her Māori heritage. This is her eighth column.

OPINION: I can bumble my way through my pepeha and I've sat my first test in 10 years (drew a complete blank when it came to translating the word tamaiti – 'boy' – and considered writing 'activist').

I can sing about five waiata, and I'm working on learning a karakia (prayer). And I have a solid 100 kupu (words) to identify items around my house and neighbourhood – although apparently there are 100,000 in the Māori language.

I'm working alongside a group of Stuff colleagues as part of the diversity rōpū (group) to reflect on how we can support the preservation of tikanga Māori (culture) and te reo Māori (language). I feel privileged to be part of this experienced, passionate crew who are spread across Aotearoa and committed to guiding this shift within our organisation.

National Correspondent Carmen Parehi has been roped into a series of videos showing how far I have to go with te reo - but why it’s worth giving it a go.

* Te reo classes from cafe mark Maori Language Week

* Te reo in schools could connect young Kiwis**

Right now I'm on a study break from my te reo course – time off to practice for a second spoken assessment and to prepare for a speech in front of 450 students about my te reo journey. (Kei te tarawewehi ahau - I'm terrified).

In the middle of this break (September 10-16) falls Te Wiki o te reo Māori, Māori Language Week, with the theme of 'Kia Kaha te Reo Māori' – 'Let's make the Māori language strong'.

To be honest, it's the first time I've ever really paid attention to this awareness week. This year, thanks to my studies, I'm going to do my small bit.

If, like me, you're also interested in taking part, here are a few ways I'm engaging with te reo in my workplace and community, and some ideas for you. I'd love to hear how you plan to acknowledge Māori Language Week, wherever you are.

- I've connected with a colleague who's starting his te reo journey too. As he's based in a different city, most of our communication is via email and online chat – so we've pledged every conversation should carry words of te reo. I hope it's something we'll continue long after the Week draws to a close.

- As part of Stuff's recognition of Te Wiki o te reo Māori, we're running a series of simple daily challenges with short videos for staff all about giving te reo a go. You can get a taste of how hard I find the word ngenge in the out-take above.

- Like 9000 others, I've enrolled in Massey University's online course Toro Mai to supplement my studies at AUT. The te reo component kicks off during Māori Language Week. Perfect for anyone wanting to learn at their own pace, from their own place.

- Small steps matter – it's not too late to involve your workplace; even sticking up a few signs in te reo is a way to connect your colleagues to the language. Check out the resources on the Te Wiki o te Reo Māori website; they're focused on the ways we discover a new language. I'm a fan of the coffee card – as long as I can order my single shot soy latte wherever I go.

- Explore the Te Wiki o te Reo Māori parades happening in Tāmaki Makaurau, Ōtautahi, Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara, Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa and Rotorua – unique to each region but all intended to celebrate and increase awareness of te reo Māori.

- Organise your own te reo hui (gathering) in your community – not necessarily to practice te reo but to start the conversation about it, like these two wonderful women in Matamata.

- Lastly, I'm doing my best to encourage anyone around me trying te reo. OK, I admit I laughed – hard – when my colleague said 'Tēnā koutou for the breakfast' (greetings for the breakfast'), but giving it a go is what it's all about. You might feel out of your comfort zone – but that's just part of learning something new.

This week I had my first phone call in which enough Māori words were spoken that I needed a dictionary. But as mentioned in my last column, I want to hear te reo spoken more, so this was an opportunity to learn and connect in a real-world situation. I now have a notebook placed on my desk for recording new words and phrases.

Te reo seems to be a little more present in my life these days. Or maybe it always was, but I just didn't pay attention.