April 12, 2024
Mountain in the mouth as kupu revived
Iwi in Taranaki are reviving the kupu mounga with an o in reference to their mountain.
A settlement bill is now before parliament to recognise Taranaki Maunga as a legal person and the give the eight iwi ownership and co-governance over the surrounding national park.
The bill removes any traces of the colonial name, Egmont.
Educationist and te reo expert Ruakere Hond says some iwi are pushing further and using the word mounga among themselves.
“It feels natural to do that. But not all iwi and not all communities in Taranaki pronounce the word with an ‘ou’. Its probably more of a coast and heading down more into Ngāti Ruanui area – but it’s up to the individual really,” he says.
Dr Hond says as Māori continue the process of regaining identities decimated by colonialism – regions and communities will also start to use dialects specific to their history and whakapapa.