Māori Language Week celebrates with New Waiata Release

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is happening from 14 to 21 September 2024, and a special waiata has been released to celebrate.

The week begins by marking the anniversary of Te Petihana Reo Māori, which was presented to Parliament on 14 September 1972 to promote the recognition and revival of the Māori language.

The waiata, called Kōrero Māori, was originally written in 1984 by the late Te Pikikōtuku ‘Piki’ Kereama and was created to inspire people to speak te reo Māori. This year, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission, re-recorded the song with support from Te Māngai Pāho and the whānau of the original composer.

The new version features 19-year-old Wailan Tuhakaraina-Goddard as the singer. She is part of her family band, Mystical Creatures, and is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who was the original lead singer of the song with the band Tauira. Tuhakaraina-Goddard shared that singing is deeply meaningful to her and her whānau, helping them connect with others through music.

Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, chief executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, emphasized the song’s role in encouraging everyone to use te reo Māori as much as possible. He noted that while Kōrero Māori was well-known in the 1980s, it had never been officially recorded until now. The new music video features people of all backgrounds showing their love for the language.

What is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori?

Every year since 1975, New Zealand has celebrated Māori Language Week, a time for everyone to embrace te reo Māori (the Māori language) and use more Māori phrases in daily life. In 2024, Māori Language Week runs from 14 to 21 September.

Te reo Māori is experiencing a resurgence, with more people learning and speaking the language. Today, there are Māori-language schools, Māori radio stations, and a dedicated Māori television channel. This growth is the result of years of effort and determination to revive the language, which was once at risk of being lost.

What is the Theme this year?

The theme for Te Wiki 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of Te Reo Māori. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders have to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future.