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‘Cherish the language’
Thursday, July 19, 2012 • Alice Te Puni
TE KURA Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui children are encouraging the district’s communities to celebrate te reo as Maori Language Week gets under way on Monday.

The theme for this year is Arohatia Te Reo which means to “cherish the language”.

Nga Uri a Maui tumuaki (principal) Kororia Matahiki says the kura (school) celebrates te reo Maori “ia ra ia ra” (each and every day) but the awareness week was an “extra special time” because it inspired a strengthening of the national identity, with people coming together to acknowledge “he taonga tuku iho” (a treasure handed down).

Activities planned at the kura this week are a te reo treasure hunt for “nga pepi” (junior school), an amazing race for the “wharekura” (seniors), a quiz day about the historical issues for te reo, and a poster competition.

Te Wananga o Aotearoa has essay writing competitions planned for its students and primary schools throughout Tairawhiti.

Last year Mangapapa School student Chariss Moore secured third place nationally for her Maori Language Week essay.

TWoA Whirikoka Campus Bachelor of Teaching students will be visiting four Gisborne primary schools to present the Maori origin story Ranginui and Papatuanuku.

The group of 21 first-year students will perform contemporary and traditional versions and carry out lessons in te reo.

Gisborne District Council has a fun week planned to cherish the Maori language. Its line-up of prize-winning daily events includes quiz Monday, treasure hunt Tuesday, games Wednesday, a hikoi (walk) Thursday to hear the stories behind some of Gisborne’s street names and landmarks and rewena Friday — a bread-making lesson and sampling of the tasty kai.

Tairawhiti District Health will have karakia in the chapel, kapa haka lessons and te reo challenges every day.

On Thursday the H.B. Williams Memorial Library has a reading in te reo session and the presentation in te reo of a New Zealand Post Book Week winner — The Cat’s Pyjamas (Te Ngeru Kahu Moe) by Catherine Foreman at 10.15am.

Staff will also commit their work breaks to te reo Maori only time.

Gisborne’s Countdown supermarket will give away te reo resources and display signage for translated food categories.

Maori Language Week coincides this year with the anniversary of the establishment of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori — the Maori Language Commission.

The commission was set up to promote Maori as a living language and as an ordinary means of communications.
MAORI LANGUAGE WEEK: Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Nga Uri a Maui children are gearing up for a busy week of fun activities to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori and encourage communities throughout Te Tairawhiti to “Arohatia te reo” — cherish the language. Picture by Paul Rickard
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