September 14, 2021
Māori language moment past 1 million mark
More than 1 million New Zealanders have already signed up to take part in today’s Māori language moment.
The Māori Language Commission is inviting people to take time out at noon to celebrate the language in some way.
Te Taura Whiri chief executive, Ngahiwi Apanui says this year’s event is dedicated to the people of Auckland who are still under lockdown.
He says like beating Covid, winning back te reo Māori is a long game.
Māori Language Commissioner Rawinia Higgins says language revitalisation is a three-generation journey, so people need to be encouraged to use as much as they have and push each other to learn more.
“The Māori language moment is really taking a moment out of our week to focus on te reo Māori – it could be listening, it could be learning, it could be speaking, and it could be singing, it could be a whole range of things,” she says.
The reomaori.co.nz website includes a range of suggested activities and supporting material.