Maori Language Week Activities
This week is Māori Language Week and we are looking at why we have it in New Zealand.
A language revives (From nz.history.govt.nz and Mr Peters)
Every year since 1975 New Zealand has marked Māori Language Week. This is a time for all New Zealanders to celebrate te reo Māori (the Māori language) and to use more Māori phrases in everyday life. In 2017 Māori Language Week runs from 11-17 September, the theme is 'Kia ora te reo' – which celebrates New Zealand’s indigenous greeting and the intent of te reo Māori revitalisation efforts between the Crown and Māori.
Te reo Māori is undergoing a resurgence and more people speak the language. There are Māori-language schools, Māori radio stations and a Māori television channel. There was a time when some people objected to hearing Māori greetings such as ‘Kia ora’. The campaign to revive the language has been a long one.
The future of te reo Māori was the subject of a claim before the Waitangi Tribunal in 1985. The tribunal’s recommendations were far-reaching. Māori became an official language of New Zealand in 1987. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori was established in the same year to promote te reo. Along with the Human Rights Commission and Te Puni Kōkiri, it plays a key role in the annual Māori Language Week. In 1990 a further tribunal report recommended supporting the language through broadcasting efforts..
Questions
- What year did we start to celebrate Maori Language week?
- What is the theme of this years language week?
- Complete this sentence. There are no Māori Language __________, Māori Radio__________ and a Māori __________ Channel.
- What was one of the phrases people objected hearing?
- What tribunal was Te Reo Māori referred to in 1985?
- What were the tribunal’s recommendations?
- Try the Maori Language week quiz from nzhistory
Activity look at the list of 100 Māori words everyone should know from nzhistory. How many do you know?
