Tautoko Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
The 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori kicked off yesterday and runs until Saturday 20 September. To help you celebrate this significant milestone, here’s a rundown of events and activities happening to tautoko (support) the use and celebration of te reo Māori.
All Far North Libraries will be offering activities that will display, use, speak and champion the use of Māori. These include Ngā Rā Tākaro (reo Māori games) in the Toibox collections, a te reo Māori theme in the storytelling sessions that include waiata, kanikani (dance), whakarongo (listening) and pānui (reading) as well as reo Māori being incorporated into the afterschool programmes – think Minecraft pā building challenges!
Competitions will also run in the libraries throughout the week including Kotahi rau kupu i te reo Māori where 100 reo Māori words are hidden around libraries and anyone (all ages) who finds 50 kupu goes into a draw to win a $50 prezzy card. There are also colouring competitions with a reo Māori focus and possible spot prizes. Check each library’s Facebook page for more details.
Council staff will also be turning out to show their support for Te Hīkoi Whakanui i te Wiki o te Reo Māori in Kaikohe on Friday 19 September. Around 400 school children will be marching to showcase the mana (pride) and kotahitanga (unity) of the community. The activation, which is organised by Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kaikohe, begins at 10am at Northland College and finishes at Papa Hawaiki Sportsville. Information will be released this week about road closures required to enable the hīkoi.
The council is also supporting the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with the release of seven videos this week with Far Northerners talking about their favourite te reo Māori phrase or kupu and why they love it.
Te reo Māori learners are being encouraged to take part in 50 Wero (Challenges) on the Reo Māori website this week. All levels of learners are encouraged to sign up for the email campaign to get you sharing kupu, singing waitata or recording a reo moment, which challenge organisers are calling ‘acts of aroha for te reo Māori’. Find out more here - 50 Wero Reo Māori - Te Rangaihi Reo Māori. Another popular option is Mahuru Māori, where reo Māori speakers are encouraged to set themselves intentions for using Māori every day for the month of September.
To celebrate this significant milestone we talked to well known Far Northerners about their favourite kupu or whakataukī...
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