Greater Access To Maori Language Resources

A new partnership was signed today which aims to improve teacher access to Mäori language resources.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Mäori (the Mäori Language Commission) and The Learning Centre Trust who manages the Ministry of Education's website Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI), began a relationship today which aims to improve electronic access for teachers to Mäori Language information and resources.

Learning Centre Trust Chairperson David Copeland says he is excited about the Taura Whiri involvement in the TKI site as it adds value in terms of endorsement and the provision of resources for teachers visiting the site.

"Mäori language teachers are crying out for resources, so we have reached out to Te Taura Whiri and through our website we can now offer a wider range of information. We are serious about ensuring that teachers working in Maori education and Maori medium schools find Te Kete Ipurangi of immense value".

Taura Whiri Chief Executive Haami Piripi says it makes complete sense for Te Taura Whiri to work with other organisations to ensure Mäori language resources are available to as wide an audience as possible.

"One of our key goals is to promote and raise awareness of te reo Mäori and Mäori language issues. The education sector and more specifically teachers play a pivotal role in this. We realise that for some teachers te reo Mäori may not be an easy thing, so, if access to some of our resources, like our booklet promoting positive attitudes to the classroom, or our immersion language courses helps teachers then this relationship directly contributes to the revitalization of te reo Mäori," says Haami.

The TKI site is located at http://www.tki.org.nz and the Mäori Language Commission site at www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz .

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