MEDIA RELEASE

From: Cosset Cafe
Date: 28 July 2010
Subject: Maori Language Week at Cosset Café

Cosset Café embraces Maori language week in Owairaka (Mt Albert)

The owners of Cosset Café have decided to awhi (embrace) Maori Language Week 2010 and it seems especially relevant given this year’s theme of ‘Te Mahi Kai – The Language of Food’.

Cosset Café, a cute and quirky establishment specialising in Kokako organic coffee, delicious sweet treats, vegetarian and vegan food has taken it upon themselves to use Te Reo Maori wherever possible this week.

Approaching the café, you may notice the sign-writing in the window announces that it is Maori Language week –and ‘Haere Mai’ is emblazoned across the door. Step into the warmth of the café and not only will you most likely hear Maori music on the stereo, you will be greeted with a friendly “Kia ora!” The next question for you will be exactly what to order, but with the food and drinks labelled in both English and Te Reo, the only difficulty you will have… is what to pick! Will it be a slice of keke tiakerete (chocolate cake), a hanawati hua whenua (vegetable sandwich) or a tate (pastry tart)? Then settle down with a copy of a Maori Magazine, or use the ipurangi kore utu (free wireless internet), while you wait for your kai.

Cosset Café owners Kellie Gray and Rohan Packard have made a real effort to label as much as possible, so as well as the food and drink labelling, you will also find the cutlery, water and even the bathroom labelled bilingually.

With limited knowledge of te reo, they saw the opportunity of Maori Language week to help them better engage with, and further their knowledge and everyday use of the language.

However some inventive use of te reo was utilised where they couldn’t find the right terminology. For example the word for soy milk proved elusive, so the (possibly) new term of ‘Miraka kaore i te kau’ ‘Milk with no cow’ was coined – any corrections are welcomed and will be awarded with a kawhe kore utu (free coffee)!

Cosset Café is located at 1087 New North Road, at the intersection of Woodward of Richardson Roads, Mt Albert, so call in for some awhi and a great cup of coffee, or check out their facebook page to see what’s just fresh out of the kitchen.

ENDS

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