Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Māori Language Week

As a celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Indigenous language, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori holds great significance. September 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the Māori Language petition, which asked for active recognition of te reo Māori in Aotearoa, and for the language to be taught in schools.

Image of kids at Māori Language Week parade in 2018

Te reo Māori has been an official language of New Zealand since 1987, and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori has been celebrated in New Zealand since 1975, in an effort to raise awareness of the language, and get New Zealanders to embrace te reo Māori and use it more. Māori Language Week is organised by Te Taura Whiri (Māori Language Commission).

Te Hui Ahurei Reo Māori o Te Whanganui-A-Tara

In 2022 we partnered with Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa Rangatira to bring a fantastic new festival of events, activities, and exhibitions to Pōneke to coincide with September’s nationwide Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori celebrations.

Te Hui Ahurei Reo Māori o Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the Māori Language Festival of Wellington celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition delivered to Parliament in September 1972 with te reo Māori focused arts and events.

The festival was part of the Tūpiki Ora Māori strategy, a partnership between Council and Mana Whenua with an action plan and a shared commitment to support our whānau to thrive, improve well-being, and provide a better future for our mokopuna.

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