Māori Language Week

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

1. What year did we start to celebrate Maori Language week?
2. What is the theme of this years language week?
3. Complete this sentence. There are no Māori Language __________, Māori Radio__________ and a Māori __________ Channel.
4. What was one of the phrases people objected hearing?
5. What tribunal was Te Reo Māori referred to in 1985?
6. What were the tribunal’s recommendations?
7. 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?