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January 06, 2026
Summer Series: Te Reo on the Road — A Big Kaupapa for Māori Visibility and Safety
Waatea Team
Posted On January 6, 2026
This summer, a conversation that began with something as simple as road signs has grown into a broader kōrero about language, identity and safety on our roads.
In May this year, Radio Waatea spoke with Dave Taui, director of Dāmel Traffic Management, about his decision to use te reo Māori traffic signs – specifically taihoa (wait) and haere (go) stop-go signs – at roadside work sites. The move sparked debate across Aotearoa, shining a spotlight on how Māori language and culture intersect with everyday life and public safety.
Listen to the full Radio Waatea interview with Dave Taui here:
https://waateanews.com/2025/05/19/dave-taui-damels-traffic-management/
Until recently, most temporary road signs – including stop-go signals used at roadworks – have been in English only. But Mr Taui began using bilingual stop-go signs that read taihoa and haere on busy worksites in the Bay of Plenty and beyond, with the aim of lifting the visibility of te reo Māori in everyday Aotearoa life and promoting respect on the roads.
The initiative was intended to align with te reo as an official language of Aotearoa and to reflect the cultural identity of the communities where those signs were being deployed – especially in areas with strong Māori presence.
While many people in te ao Māori saw the signs as a positive affirmation of Māori language and identity on public roads, others raised concerns about legality and safety. Some critics argued that modifying standard traffic signs could lead to confusion – especially among visitors or road users unfamiliar with Māori terms.
For Māori communities, te reo isn’t just a language – it’s a living expression of identity, tikanga and connection to whenua. While standard traffic signage is designed for universal recognition, including te reo Māori on stop-go signs was a statement about inclusion and belonging in public spaces. Many Māori drivers told Radio Waatea listeners that seeing their own language on signs instilled pride and respect.
In conversation with Radio Waatea, Dave Taui explained that he believed using te reo in traffic management could increase respect for the signs and help raise awareness among drivers in a way that’s culturally meaningful – particularly for tangata whenua.
He also highlighted the practical reality on Aotearoa’s roads: many drivers routinely ignore speed limits and roadwork controls, with thousands of reported incidents at work sites each year. Taui’s use of te reo traffic signs was aimed at reinforcing the message that slowing down isn’t just compliance – it’s protection for all road users and kaimahi (workers).
This issue has also touched on wider questions about how te reo Māori is recognised – and respected – in official signage and public infrastructure. While Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has recognised te reo as an official language, and some bilingual signs exist (such as for kōhanga reo and marae), many temporary traffic control devices remain standardised under strict legal rules.
For many Māori communities, the broader debate isn’t just about one set of signs – it’s about whose voices and languages we see reflected in public space. If Aotearoa truly embraces bilingualism and biculturalism, supporters argue, then everyday symbols like road signs ought to reflect that commitment.
This is more than a traffic management story – it’s a reminder that language and culture matter in all parts of life, including how we navigate our world.
For Māori, raising the visibility of te reo in everyday settings is a way of strengthening identity and presence in public life. For others, it invites us all to think about what inclusion really looks like – and how language can be a tool for both safety and cultural affirmation.
As Dave Taui told Radio Waatea, the hope is that this kaupapa encourages meaningful conversation, greater understanding of te reo Māori, and stronger, safer roads for everyone.
For the full kōrero, hear the interview here:
https://waateanews.com/2025/05/19/dave-taui-damels-traffic-management/
