Māori Language Moment

Friday, 15th September 2023 at 10:14am

Ka mau te wehi - you are awesome!

Year 9 Japanese language students at Green Bay High School took part in the Māori Language Moment by singing 'Ma is White' is a popular waiata that teaches the basic colours in Te Reo Māori.

As part of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori this week, everyone in Aotearoa (and beyond) was invited to stop what they were doing and celebrate te reo Māori in a 'Māori Language Moment' at 12pm, on 14 September 2023, marking the very moment the Māori Language Petition was presented to Parliament in 1972, on the first Māori Language Day.

What was YOUR te reo Māori moment? Share what you did for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2023 and showcase how Aotearoa celebrated te reo as a nation.

Not sure where to get started? Learn your mihi! Learning a language is all about taking that first step. Click here to learn how to introduce yourself in te reo Māori, with your mihi - telling others who you are and where you come from by saying your name, where your ancestors come from and where you live.

A mihi shares similarities with a traditional pepeha - the traditional Māori way to introduce yourself. A pepeha connects us to our tribal lineage and ancestors, tracing our connection to maunga, waka, awa, and more. Being able to introduce yourself in te reo Māori is a helpful tool that we can all use in our everyday lives.

Watch this video clip from https://www.reomaori.co.nz/ to help you get started.