Quiz night in Te Reo Māori launched in Māori Language Week

18 July 2012

Quiz night in Te Reo Māori to be launched in Māori Language week to encourage everyday use of Te Reo

‘Te Pātai:The Quiz’, a quiz night held in Te Reo Māori is being launched by a group of learners and speakers of Te Reo, based in Wellington, on 24 July 2012 at Karaka Cafe.

“We want to hold an ‘everyday’ event which has an atmosphere allowing Te Reo to be used naturally”, says James Wallace, a member of the organising roopu which is made up of Māori and Pākehā, who wanted more space and everyday opportunities for speaking Te Reo, “we all love learning and speaking Te Reo but we need to continually connect our reo speaking communities so that we can immerse ourselves in Te Reo”.

“We also strongly believe that the preservation of Te Reo is paramount, and we want to do something to encourage an increase in the use and interest of Te Reo, in the everyday”, says Mr Wallace.

A number of prominent people have come forward to support the initiative including Adrian Tangaroa Wagner and Te Ururoa Flavell who are both MCs for the event. Many local and national organisations from across the country have also stepped forward to support the event by donating prizes.

Only 4.1% of New Zealanders speak Te Reo, despite it being one of our country’s three national languages.1 The first “Te Pātai” will be held in Māori Language week2 and it is hoped that it will then be held monthly in Wellington in the future. There will be General as well as Māori Tikanga type questions, all delivered in Te Reo. The theme of Māori Language week 2012 is Arohatia Te Reo, which is about cherishing Te Reo and showing ‘love and regard for the language’. The organising roopu hopes ‘Te Pātai:The Quiz’ will contribute to this theme and encourage people to Arohatia Te Reo year round.

All funds raised from the event will go to Te Whare Rokiroki (Māori Women’s Refuge), a community organisation that provides support and advocacy to Maori women and their children experiencing domestic violence.

ENDS

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