OPINION: As New Zealanders mark Waitangi Day it is a good time to reflect on where we have been, where we are now and where we want to be in the future. I a tātou o Aotearoa e whakamihi ana i Te Rā o Waitangi, me mahara tātou ki tō tātou ahunga mai, ki tō tātou noho ināianei, ā, ki tō tātou e manako nei kia ahu whakamua ki hea. New Zealanders calling for te reo to be taught in schools, marched on our parliament with the Māori Language Petition in 1972. Their peaceful protests led to the successful WAI11 Māori Language claim which also created our whare, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission. Nō te tau 1972 i kawea te Petihana o Te Reo Māori ki tō tātou whare paremata e te hunga e kōkiri ana kia whakaakona te reo Māori i ngā kura. Nā ā rātou tohenga ā- rongo i whai hua ai te kerēme WAI11 mō te Reo Māori, nāna anō i tū ai te whare o Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. READ MORE:
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* Position particles put you in prime position to lift your te reo skills
* Is listening to an address in te reo really a hardship to whine about?
* Everyone who learns te reo Māori is special
In 2016, 30-years after the Waitangi Tribunal report that led to te reo becoming an official language in its own land: our chief executive Ngahiwi Apanui was looking at black and white photographs of Māori language protests and decided to create Māori language parades. Many told him no one would turn up.
Nō te tau 2016, 30 tau i muri mai i te pūrongo a Te Taraipiunara o Waitangi nāna anō i whai mana ai te reo hei reo ōkawa i tōna ake whenua; i te titiro whakamuri nei tō mātou tumuaki, a Ngāhiwi Apanui ki ngā whakaahua pango me te mā, o ngā porotēhi mō te reo Māori, ka whakataua e ia kia whakaritea anō ngā hīkoi reo Māori. Ka nui rawa te hunga whakahē i kī mai, kāore he tangata e puta mai.
But when he and All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder walked out of our building and turned the corner towards Lambton Quay: thousands were waiting to march with them in our inaugural Māori Language Parade. Every year the parades have grown, thousands more from all ethnicities have marched with us and in 2019 they were held in seven cities across New Zealand.
Engari nō tōna putanga i tō mātou whare, rāua ko te toa Kapa o Pango, a Nehe Milner-Skudder ka huri i te kokonga kia aro ki te huarahi o Lambton: i reira te tini o te tangata e tatari ana ki te hīkoi tahi me rāua i tō mātou Hīkoi Reo Māori tuatahi nei. I ia tau i muri mai ka nui kē atu ngā hīkoi me te tokomaha o ngā iwi huhua e hīkoi tahi ana, ā, nō te tau 2019 i tū ngā hīkoi ki ngā tāone nui e whitu puta noa i Aotearoa.
Last year COVID-19 changed everything. Instead of meeting up on the streets: we met up online and ended up making history with our Māori Language Moment which saw more than 1 million of us celebrating te reo at the same time. We are focused on growing 1 million speakers of te reo by 2040: this is what we need to revitalise the language. We know it takes one generation to lose a language and three generations to get it back.
Nō tērā tau, ka huri kē te ao i te Mate Korona. Ka mahue te hui ki ngā tiriti, ka hui kē ki te ipurangi, ka mutu ka tū te kaupapa nui o Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori kia whakanuia te reo e te kotahi miriona o tātou i te wā kotahi. E aronui ana mātou ki te whai kia kotahi miriona anō ngā kaikōrero reo Māori i mua i te paunga o te tau 2040: me whai rawa e tātou ko tēnei e ora ai te reo. Kei te mōhio mātou ka ngaro te reo i te reanga kotahi, me toru reanga anō e hoki ora mai ai.
It is interesting to look at what Māori language champions in the 1980s hoped would be in place by now. One hope was all government heads would speak te reo by 2000. This is not the case, I am guessing but suspect that few of our CEOs and Deputy CEOs are Māori speakers.
Heoi anō e hoki ana ngā mahara ki ngā toa o te reo Māori i ngā tau o 1980 me ō rātou tūmanako mō ēnei rā. Ko tētahi o aua tūmanako kia kōrero ngā tumuaki katoa o ngā tari kāwanatanga i te reo Māori. Kāore i te pērā, ki taku whakaaro he torutoru noa ō tātou tumuaki, tumuaki tuarua hoki e kōrero Māori ana.
One exception is Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the Secretary of Health, who has been learning te reo for some time. The good news is that more and more agencies are implementing Māori language plans that will help establish baselines, targets and learning tools. This is something our organisation helps with. Leadership like this helps to encourage organisations to embrace te reo Māori as our first language as part of our norm.
Hāunga anō a Tākuta Ashley Bloomfield, Tumuaki o Te Manatū Hauora, kua roa nei e akoako ana i te reo Māori. Ko te mea pai, kei te nui haere ngā tari e whakatinana mahere reo Māori ana hei whakatau i ngā pae tīmatanga, i ngā whāinga me ngā tikanga akoako. Koinei te mahi a tō mātou tari hei āwhina. Mā ēnei momo tohutohu e ārahi ngā tari ki te whai i te reo Māori hei reo matua e tangata whenua ai hei reo mō tātou.
Learning a language is about starting out small and making that first step: no one will be an expert in a day or even a week. We recently interviewed former Te Puni Kōkiri head Sir Wira Gardiner about his journey to fluency that began when he was a chief executive himself. He told us there is no escaping embarrassment so all there is left is to try: “Don’t be ashamed. We have to get into a mindset where mistakes will be made, and mistakes are a stepping stone to learning and becoming adept and proficient at the language. And for those who know te reo Māori my advice is to be gentle and be kind.”
He mea iti te tīmatanga ki te ako i te reo: kāore te tangata e matatau i te rangi kotahi, i te wiki rānei. Nō nā tata nei i uiui mātou i a Tā Wira Gardiner, tumuaki o mua o Te Puni Kōkiri, mō tana huarahi ako i te reo kia matatau i tīmata i a ia e noho tumuaki ana. Ko tāna, kāore e taea te whakamā te karo, kotahi tonu te huarahi, me ngana: “Kaua e whakamā. Me mātua mōhio tātou ka hapa, heoi mā te hapa e mōhio ai, e mātau ai ki te reo. Nā, me atawhai, me aroha mai te hunga matatau ki te reo.”
That’s why this month our team has a new challenge for New Zealanders: learn how to introduce yourself in te reo Māori by saying your name, where your ancestors come from (if you want to or can!) and where you live. Whether in a Zui (Zoom hui in te reo) or introducing yourself at a face to face meeting: being able to introduce yourself in te reo is a helpful tool. Check it out. We have some familiar faces, who have recorded their mihimihi for us. Give it a go e hoa mā!
Nā reira kua whakatakotohia te wero e tō mātou tari mō tēnei marama mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa: me ako ki te whakamōhio atu ki te reo Māori, ko wai koe, arā, ko wai tō ingoa, nō hea ō tīpuna (mēnā e hiahia ana, e mōhio ana rānei!), kei hea hoki koe e noho ana. He mea nui te whakamōhio atu i a koe ki te reo Māori, ahakoa ā-Hui Topa (Hui Zoom i te reo Māori), ā-kanohi rānei. Tēnā, tirohia mai. He kanohi ēnei e mōhiotia ana, e mihimihi ana ki a tātou. Karawhiua e hoa mā!
Last month I was honoured to be elected onto the Global Taskforce for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032, a UNESCO initiative. Set up in the wake of WWII, UNESCO exists to help build peace in the minds of all people. We know that when it comes to building peace in New Zealand, some of those building blocks have been made out of te reo Māori.
Kāti, nō tērā marama i kōwhiria au hei māngai i te kaupapa o UNESCO, arā, o te Rōpū Kōkiri o Te Ao mō Te Tekau Tau o Te Ao o Ngā Reo Taketake 2022-2032. I whakatūria a UNESCO i muri tata mai i te Pakanga Tuarua o Te Ao hei hohou i te rongo i ngā tāngata katoa. Kei te mōhio tonu tātou, mō te hohou i te rongo i Aotearoa nei, nō te reo Māori anō ētahi o ana tikanga.
More New Zealanders are embracing our language than ever before. During Māori Language Week 2020 1.1 million joined us in the biggest Māori language event in history. Te reo is becoming normalised across our country whether it’s on our streets or our screens. These are small ways we can measure how we are going when it comes to peacefulness and reconciliation. Last December we commissioned Colmar Brunton to tell us how New Zealanders see te reo and more than 8 in 10 of us see it as part of our identity as a New Zealander: people see te reo as something that brings us together.
Kātahi anō ka kite i te nui haere o ngā tāngata o Aotearoa e whai ana i tō tātou reo. Ka tūhono mai ko te 1.1 miriona tāngata ki te kaupapa reo Māori nui whakaharahara i Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2020. Kei te tangata whenua haere te reo i tō tātou whenua, ahakoa i ō tātou tiriti, i ō tātou matahiko rānei. He āhuatanga iti ēnei e kitea ai, e mōhiotia ai te taunga o te rangimārie, te hohounga hoki o te rongo. Nō tērā o ngā Hakihea/Tīhema i tonoa e mātou kia rangahaua e Colmar Brunton e pēhea ana te titiro a ngā tāngata o Aotearoa ki te reo, ā, ko tā rātou i kite ai he neke atu i te 8 o te 10 o tātou e mea ana he wāhi tō te reo ki te tuakiritanga o Aotearoa; he kaupapa whakakotahi hoki te reo i a tātou.
New Zealand’s Māori language journey over the past half century has been epic and we are excited at what lies ahead. Our people’s support for the first language of our nation is something that unites us and makes us New Zealanders unique as envisioned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Ehara i te hanga tēnei mea te whai a te reo Māori i ngā rima tekau tau ka taha nei, ā, e hīkaka katoa ana mātou ki te anga whakamua. Ko te tautoko a ō tātou iwi i te reo matua o tō tātou whenua te kaupapa e whakakotahi nei i a tātou, e whakamana motuhake nei i a tātou ki tā Te Tiriti o Waitangi i kī ai.
Kia kaha te reo Māori!
Professor Rawinia Higgins is Toihau/Chair of Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission.
FAQs
How do you introduce yourself in Te Reo Maori? ›
A pepeha is the traditional Māori way to introduce oneself. It connects us to our tribal lineage and ancestors, tracing our connection to maunga, waka, awa, and more. Standing and sharing pepeha is how Māori introduce themselves and make links with others, mostly in formal situations.
How do you say introduction in Māori? ›tīmatatanga. 1. (noun) beginning, starting, introduction, start, commencement.
What is Mihimihi in Te Reo? ›1. (verb) (-a) to greet, pay tribute, thank.
What is the difference between a mihi and a Pepeha? ›A mihi is a greeting while a pepeha is a form of introduction that establishes identity and heritage. In formal settings, the pepeha forms part of an individual's mihi. A group situation where everyone gives their mihi (including their pepeha) is called a mihimihi. This is often held at the beginning of a hui.
What is included in a mihi? ›The mihi (or pepeha) is a brief personal speech used to introduce oneself in a way that goes beyond one's name. It offers the opportunity to express one's heritage (or whakapapa), one's links to this land, one's spiritual home and one's sense of purpose.
What does Nga Mihi Nui mean? ›The English translation is : Greetings to all.
What does nga mihi mean? ›Ngā mihi (Congratulations, regards, thank you)
What does Ka Kite Ano mean? ›Ka Kite Ano (See you tomorrow)
Although this is generally remarked as incorrect usage, 'ka kite ano' is commonly said by local TV presenters and newscasters when bidding goodbye to their viewers. It may pop up in daily conversations with Kiwis too – so keep this one at the back of your mind for future reference.
Mihimihi are informal introductions at the beginning of any hui, gathering or event. Everyone's mihi can be different and many different styles can be used. For learners it is often difficult to decide how/when/where/what mihi is appropriate.
What is mihi to the dead in Māori? ›Mihi ki te hunga mate (acknowledgement of the dead): paying tribute to the dead who live on in the spirit realm. Mihi ki te hunga ora (acknowledgement of the living): giving thanks for our continued existence.
Why is a mihi important? ›
For Māori, saying mihi/pepeha is an important way of making connections with others and understanding more about where a person is from.
Why is mihi important in the Māori culture? ›It is an opportunity for people to show respect, through the language used and its accompanying actions and the tone for the interaction is set” (Kōrero Māori, n.d., Ngā Mihi: Greetings, para.
What does it mean to mihi to someone? ›a Māori ceremonial greeting. verb. 2. ( transitive) to greet (a person)
Can non Māori have a Pepeha? ›In essence, the pepeha is an introduction for any person and their affiliations in a Māori context for one purpose, to make connections. I'm emphasising this because most people mistakenly think that the pepeha is all about introducing yourself.
What are examples of Māori phrases? ›- Kia ora — Hello.
- Kia ora tatou — Hello everyone.
- Tena koe — Greetings to you (said to one person)
- Tena koutou — Greeting to you all.
- Haere mai — Welcome.
- Nau mai — Welcome.
- Kei te pehea koe? — How's it going?
- Kei te pai — Good.
- I think we've already met.
- My name is ...
- I'm ...
- Nice to meet you; I'm ...
- Pleased to meet you; I'm ...
- Let me introduce myself; I'm ...
- I'd like to introduce myself; I'm ...
- My name is Melanie, but you can call me Mel.
Hello, everyone! My name is _____________ and I'm from ____________. I'm currently studying ____________ at _____________, and I hope to become ___________ one day. I'm really passionate about ___________, and I'm always looking for new ways to learn and improve my skills.
Does word Aroha Mai mean? ›The Māori proverb, 'aroha atu, aroha mai' means 'love received, love returned'.
What does ngā mihi Nui Ki a Koutou mean? ›Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa, warm greetings to you all.
What does Ka kite mean? ›Ka kite anō
A friendly, informal way to say goodbye to someone you will see again, and sometimes shortened to just ka kite.
What does Ngā Mihi Mahana mean? ›
Nga mihi mahana - Warm regards. English Phonetics: Ngah M-he Mar-hah-nah. Kia pai ou koutou rangi - have a great day everyone.
What does Ngā mihi o te tau hou Pākehā mean? ›Ngā mihi o te tau hou Pākehā/Happy New Year.
What does pai te mahi? ›The sentence Ka pai / te mahi may be translated as "The work / is good" but the verb particle ka does not translate to "is". This is readily demonstrated by comparing two simple sentences: Ka waiata / te hine (Sings / the girl = The girl / sings) and Ka pai / te mahi (Good / the work = The work / is good).
What does Ko Wai Koe? ›Ko wai koe? (Who are you?)
What is ano yon? ›While ano 'yun literally means what's that, yeah I understand your question because it does seem like it's being used as an acknowledgement, if not precisely as a greeting.
What is ano ano? ›ano-anó [pronoun] what; plural of "what"; plural of "ano"; others; various things; various other; this and that. Go to main entry for ano-ano »
What is a Māori welcome called? ›A whakatau is a form of welcome ceremony similar to a pōwhiri, but less formal and more flexible. It's used in many different contexts and can be adapted to suit many types of occasion.
What do Maoris say when someone dies? ›There are whakataukī (sayings) which are commonly recited when news that someone has died is conveyed. For example, 'Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui-a-Tāne. ' (The tōtara tree has fallen in Tāne's great forest.)
What do Māori do when someone dies? ›The tangihanga is the enduring Māori ceremony for mourning someone who has died. It is commonly called a tangi, which also means to weep, and to sing a dirge (a lament for the dead). The dead play an important role in Māori traditions.
Where do Māori go after death? ›Māori history and legend
It is here that after death, all Māori spirits travel up the coast and over the wind-swept vista to the pohutukawa tree on the headland of Te Rerenga Wairua. They descend into the underworld (reinga) by sliding down a root into the sea below.
Why do Māori say Tena Koutou 3 times? ›
As well as being used as a greeting, kia ora is also a general expression of appreciation. Tēnā koe (to one person), tēnā kōrua (to two people), or tēnā koutou (to three or more people) also means thank you in Māori.
What does Aroha AHAU ki a koe? ›Aroha ahau ki a koe. I love you. This week we celebrate Maori language week and will be sharing encouraging words we can say to our tamariki 💕 they can't get enough of this encouragement 💕
Why is it important to do a karakia? ›Karakia are Māori incantations and prayers, used to invoke spiritual guidance and protection. They are generally used to increase the spiritual goodwill of a gathering, so as to increase the likelihood of a favourable outcome. They are also considered a formal greeting when beginning a ceremony.
What is my IWI if I am not Māori? ›If you are of Māori descent, you will have a Marae. If you are not of Māori descent, you will need to consider your Turangawaewae (standing, place where one has the right to stand - place where one has rights of residence and belonging through kinship and whakapapa/family tree).
What values are most important to the Māori? ›- Whakaiti - humility. Whakaiti is a key term in Māori leadership. ...
- Ko tau rourou and manaakitanga - altruism. ...
- Whanaungatanga - others. ...
- Tāria te wā and kaitiakitanga - long-term thinking, guardianship. ...
- Tikanga Māori - cultural authenticity.
- Kia ora - Hello.
- Mōrena - Good morning.
- Tēnā koe - Hello to one person.
- Kia ora/Tēna kōrua - Hello to two people.
- Kia ora tātou/kia ora koutou - Hello everyone.
- Tēnā koutou - Greetings to you (said to three or more people)
- Nau mai, haere mai - Welcome.
- Kei te pēhea koe? - How are you?
Māori men usually greet each other with the 'hongi'. This involves two people pressing their noses and foreheads together, while clasping hands, and breathing in simultaneously to share a breath. Māori women generally greet close family and friends, as well as acquaintances, by kissing on the cheek.
What is a Māori greeting word? ›Kia ora can be used to say hello, express gratitude, send love and make a connection. Kia ora is a warm and welcoming greeting you'll hear throughout New Zealand and comes from the indigenous Māori language.
What is ka pai to mahi? ›The sentence Ka pai / te mahi may be translated as "The work / is good" but the verb particle ka does not translate to "is". This is readily demonstrated by comparing two simple sentences: Ka waiata / te hine (Sings / the girl = The girl / sings) and Ka pai / te mahi (Good / the work = The work / is good).
What is the most useful Māori phrase? ›Kia ora is the easiest and most useful Māori phrase you can deploy to impress the Kiwis around you. Mostly used as a greeting, it can also be used to thank someone for a kind deed. Examples: “Kia ora Tony, how are you?”
What is ngā mihi Nui? ›
The English translation is : Greetings to all.
Does nga mihi mean thank you? ›Ngā mihi (Congratulations, regards, thank you)
Why do Māori say Tena koutou 3 times? ›As well as being used as a greeting, kia ora is also a general expression of appreciation. Tēnā koe (to one person), tēnā kōrua (to two people), or tēnā koutou (to three or more people) also means thank you in Māori.
Why do Māori touch foreheads? ›Hongi is the style of greeting for Maori people
They greet people in this unique style, by briefly pressing their foreheads and noses together at the same time. Their belief is that, during this process, the ha – or breathe of life – is exchanged between two individuals.
Kia ora kōrua - Hello to two people.
What is Nga Mihi Nui Ki A Koutou? ›Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa, warm greetings to you all.
What does Ka Mau Te Wehi e Hoa mean? ›Waititi responded, "Ka mau te wehi, e hoa! (said the 'brown' way)". Translated it means, "awesome, mate".