"E ngā mātāwaka, e ngā tai e whā o te motu, ka rere kaupare atu ngā mihi matihere ki a koutou katoa. Arā a Matariki ka rewa mai i te pae, hei wānanga, hei whakariterite, hei titiro whakamua. Kia tau iho ngā manaakitanga ki a tātou katoa i tēneiwā."
Māori Language Week has been marked and celebrated every year since 1975.
The Māori Language Act 1987 declared te reo Māori to be an official language of New Zealand. This led to the establishment of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) to promote te reo Māori.
Māhuru Māori
The contemporary initiative Mahuru Māori was founded by Parāone Gloyne at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa challenge that aims to broadcast and normalise the use of te reo Māori. This year Mahuru Māori kicks off on 11 September to align with the maramataka which tracks the 29.5-day cycle of the moon to guide daily survival, agriculture and rituals.
For us here at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa we will celebrate the idea of Mahuru Māori by publishing a whakataukī (proverbial saying) and kīwaha (idiom/colloquialism) each day of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Our theme for this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is Aroha tetahi ki tētahi – Show compassion to each other.
Whakataukī: Tuesday 15 September
Mā wai rā e taurima te marae i waho nei,
Mā te tika, mā te pono, me te aroha.
Literally “Through what activity or person will we entertain/provide hospitality on the marae outside? Through fair and just action, through sincerity and compassion!
Who or what will keep our community, our university, our family cared for? By doing what's right, by being honest and by caring for one another.
Kīwaha: Tuesday 15 September
Koia kei a koe!
A well-known idiom used to express both support and admiration towards someone for their astute thinking or their actions that benefit the whole. "You’ve got what it takes!", “You’ve got the ‘X’ factor!”
Hone:
Kua uru te kapahaka o Ngā Haumi ki te Ao ki te whakataetae ā-Motu!
The kapahaka group Haumi ki te Ao have entered the National competition!!
Awa:
Ka rawe! Koia kei a rātou!
Brilliant! They’ve got the goods!
How to celebrate
For Māori language to flourish it needs to be spoken in everyday situations. For a range of suggestions on what you, your colleagues or whānau (family) can do to celebrate Māori Language Week, and Māori language visit the ReoMāori website.
Here are some ideas you might like to try:
- answer your phone or greet people with ‘Kia ora’
- attend one of the events at your campus
- get a Māori dictionary and learn a word each day
- practice what you learn as often as possible
- play cards in te reo
- use the Māori name for your college in correspondence
- try out some kīwaha (idioms and colloquialisms).
You can also visit our Te reo Māori pronunciation and translations page for information about:
- pronunciation
- using te reo in letters and emails
- ordering coffee in te reo Māori
- Māori proverbs
- karakia (incantation)
- te reo translations for common objects
- kīwaha (idioms and colloquialisms).
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori events
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori events at Pukeahu campus library
If you're on the Wellington campus, join us during Māori language week 2026 for games, win a scooter voucher at our easy/hard quiz at the Service Point, or have a go at saying the longest place name in New Zealand!
Whakawhanaunga & Waka Making
Launch Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori by creating your own clay waka while we whakawhanunga and explore whakapapa connections.
Te Reo Turei
Explore te reo Māori at your own pace through a variety of interactive activities. Try your hand at kemu Māori, word challenges, build simple sentences, complete a word find, or begin creating your pepeha. Suitable for all levels of reo experience.
Waiata Wenerei and Poi Making
Start your morning by joining us at the Library to sing some waiata Māori. Then, head to Te Rau Tauawhi at lunchtime to make your own poi.
Tipi Haere
Get ready to explore the campus! Join Te Rau Tauawhi for a fun hide-and-seek challenge, following clues and discovering surprises along the way. Gather your friends and see if you can find all the clues,
Kai and Kēmu
Help us close out Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and remember our colleague Sheeanda McKeagg, with a shared kai and some friendly kēmu. Bring a plate to contribute, play some kemu Māori, enjoy good company, celebrate the week's activities and connect with others
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori events at Te Whare Taupua
Join us for a shared kai for Ōtehā staff and students along with movies, waiata, te reo resources and te reo lessons.
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