This year is the 50th anniversary of the Māori Language petition that was presented to Parliament on 14 September 1972. Every year since 1975, New Zealand has marked Māori Language Week, and te reo Māori became an official language of Aotearoa in 1987.
Moderator's message: Māori Language Week, 12-18 September 2022
Download the Moderator's message to the Church for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week 2022.
What can you do to encourage te reo Māori?
In the last 200 years the usage of the Māori language (te reo Māori) has had its ups and downs, and major initiatives from the 1980s onwards have seen a revival of te reo. Learn more about the history of te reo Māori
The good news is that everyone can contribute to te reo Māori revitalisation:
- Make te reo Māori welcome at work, in church and in the community
- Encourage others to use and learn te reo Māori; welcome te reo Māori language into your life
- Pronounce te reo Māori words correctly when speaking English
- Learn a little, use a little
- Learn more, and use what you know
- Keep improving your language, and share what you know
Here are some resources to support parishes and individuals to increase their usage of te reo Māori.
Beginner te reo Māori resources
- Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori | Māori Language Commission resources
- Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education resources
- Massey University Toro Mai – two free introductory online courses on te reo Māori and tikanga Māori.
- 365 common Māori words – this page includes the Māori translation for everyday words - everything from food and drink to sports and holidays. It includes audio file of each word to support pronunciation.
- Online Māori lessons - take lessons online using these 5-minute podcasts that demonstrate the basics of grammar and vocabulary, as well as how to use te reo in common conversational situations. Learn at your own pace, and take the test after each episode to see how you are going.
There are plenty more 2022 events, ideas and resources on the Reo Maori website
Presbyterian te reo Māori worship resources
- Bilingual tangi resource for ministers and worship leaders leading a tangi/funeral by former Moderator of Te Aka Puaho, Rev Dr Wayne Te Kaawa
- Bilingual holy communion resource by former Moderator of Te Aka Puaho, Rev Dr Wayne Te Kaawa
- Matariki service (2022) a gift from Rev Dr Wayne Te Kaawa
- Matariki worship resource from St Andrew's on the Terrace
Other Presbyterian resources
- Te reo resources from Presbyterian Church Schools Office.
- Watch a video of former Moderator of Te Aka Puaho, Rev Dr Wayne Te Kaawa, exploring images of Jesus in traditional and contemporary Māori art.
- Mahi Tahi – This is book five of Mahi Tahi published in 1992, which illustrates the Presbyterian Church’s efforts to move towards bi-culturalism. Download Mahi Tahi.
Other Christian te reo Māori resources
- Read the Bible in Maori - Te Paipera Tapu (the Holy Bible in Māori ) has come a long way since the very first publication of the full Bible in Māori in 1868. Download the Bible Society app which features two English translations – the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version – alongside the Māori, so you can compare the same passage in Māori and English.
- Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia -
Te Hahi Mihinare ki Aotearoa ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o Te Moana Nui a Kiwanglican Church te reo worship resources, plus more here. - Methodist Church Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa te reo worship resources.