February 22, 2024
Te reo Māori blossoming with the grapes in Te Tauihu via corrected road signs
The winds of change are blowing through the Marlborough district as the local council and community embrace te reo Māori.
Three years ago, Te Rūnanga ā Rangitāne o Wairau Trust asked the Marlborough District Council to put macrons on a dozen incorrect te reo Māori signs and now its happened.
Rūnanga general manager Corey Hebberd says Marlborough has been known as a hub for South Island reo Māori revival, so the little steps are really great to see.
He says the naming of the Blenheim’s new library, Te Kahu o Waipuna last year, and now the street signs, is showing positive community engagement with te reo.
“Look now that that’s been done, no major adverse reactions and in some cases I think it’s encouraged people to pronounce their street name correctly. You know that’s the intent of it right, it’s making sure that things are spelled correctly, are said correctly and so it’s been great to see that come through,” he says.
Corey Hebberd says inside Te Kahu o Waipuna , carries te reo Māori first on all its signage.