Maori Language Week 21 – 27 July

Media Advisory
17 July 2008

MAORI LANGUAGE WEEK 21 – 27 JULY

Every year since 1975 New Zealand has marked Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week. This year the theme is Te Reo i te Kāinga - Māori Language in the Home. The week is an opportunity for all New Zealanders to celebrate te reo Māori and encourage the use of more Māori phrases in everyday life.

What does ‘Māori Language Week’ mean to New Zealanders and how can we celebrate it? Three Ministry for Culture and Heritage websites, NZHistory.net.nz, Teara.govt.nz, and NZLive.com have all you need to understand, participate in and celebrate the week.

Want to know the history of Māori Language Week? Find out at http://wwwnzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-language-week

The future of the Māori language was the subject of a claim before the Waitangi Tribunal in 1985. Find out how the resulting decision helped the resurgence of te reo Māori from late last century. http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-language-week/waitangi-tribunal-claim

Now over 130,000 people of Māori ethnicity speak and understand te reo Māori. Discover the language’s decline and revival. http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-language-week/history-of-the-maori-language

Learn 100 Māori words every New Zealander should know, from greetings to place names. Not only see the word and its translation, but also listen to how the word is pronounced. http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/maori-language-week/100-maori-words

An important feature of the New Zealand encyclopedia, www.TeAra.govt.nz, is its Māori content. The Māori perspective is presented with each of the encyclopedia’s themes, and entries with substantial Māori content are available in the Māori language.

A section on Maori has a wealth of information from its people, culture and urbanisation to the impact from the arrival of Europeans.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealandInBrief/Maori/en

On the Signposts blog, Māori Editor Basil Keane will showcase the use of te reo Māori on TeAra.govt.nz and show visitors how they can access and utilise this resource. http://blog.teara.govt.nz/

NZLive.com will keep people across the country posted about a range of events and activities during Māori Language Week.

All over the country there will be plenty of opportunities to get out and celebrate the Māori language – from kapahaka performances and concerts to exhibitions and events. Māori Language Week on NZLive.com

News media can access images at http://www.mch.govt.nz/media-centre-images.html

ENDS

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