November 10, 2014
Rotorua Library fine with reo win
Finding new ways to engage with the public through the use of te reo Maori has won the Rotorua public library the local government tohu at this year’s Maori language awards.
Maori librarian Haki Tahana says with the awards ceremony being held in the sulphur city at the weekend, it was great to have a home town win.
The Maori Language Commission’s strategy around this year’s Maori Language Week of having an ongoing kupu o te wiki gave the library something to get behind with competitions, displays and finding new ways to get people engaged with each week’s word.
"It’s creating that engagement with hapu and iwi within the district and with our visitors, so we promote it on our web site and we talk to the public during the week, we go downstairs and start talking about what the kupu of the week is and start promoting what that is," Mr Tahana says.
The award for Maori language leadership went to educationalist Kaa Williams of Ngati Manawa and Ngai Tuhoe, and the winner of the community section, Te Iwi o Ngati Kahungunu Inc, was judged to have the supreme entry in all categories.
Te Kohanga Reo, which is undergoing a governance review after controversy about the way it manages its funds, was given the non-contestible Te Tira Aumangea award for the community demonstrating long-term commitment to Maori language revitalisation.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HAKI TAHANA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjM4ODI=
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