September 25, 2012
Smart ideas in line for reo awards
Picture books and smartphone apps are among the finalists in this year’s Maori Language Awards, which will be presented in Tauranga on the 17th of November.
Te Taura Whiri Chief Executive Glenis Philip-Barbara says there are 30 finalists in 15 categories, whose active support will help the Maori language grow and eventually flourish as an ordinary language of communication.
Vodafone and Hika Group made the list for their application which gives smartphone or tablet users quick choices on what Maori words to use.
Hamilton author Sharon Holt, who only started learning Te Reo Maori 10 years ago, is a finalist for her Te Reo Sing-along series of books, which were written to fill what she saw as a gap in the resources available to teachers in early childhood and lower primary school classes.
The books include a CD to aid pronunciation, so teachers who are not confident in the language can use them.