March 24, 2021
Reo challenge for shearing champs
Organisers of the Waimarino Shears competition have launched a new language strategy ensure competitors' names are pronounced correctly.
Committee member Elijah Pue says it's a first in an industry where Māori make up a large proportion of the workforce.
He says it's an opportunity for competitors and spectators to learn something, and he's calling on other regional and national events to follow suit.
"I put out a wero to the Golden Shears in Masterton and to the New Zealand shearing champs in Te Kuiti to say 'you guys should do it. You're the bigger shows. You're our tuakana. If you guys are going to do it then how great would that be for te reo Māori and also how great it would be for our industry to show we are leading the way," he says.
Elijah Pue says there has been a positive response.
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