The event received the International Public Relations Association’s 2021 Grand Prix special prize award decided by an international jury.
Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori is observed on September 14 to coincide with the presentation of the Māori Language Petition 1972.
“The Māori language moment, Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori, marks the moment when the Māori Language petition was presented to Parliament,” Te Taura Whiri chief executive Ngahiwi Apanui said;
“Previously banned and made socially unacceptable in its own land, our language was in its darkest days when 30,000-plus people from all walks of life mobilised to save it.”
It is nearly 36 years since te reo Māori was made an official language of Aotearoa, resulting in the establishment of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.
“Te reo Māori is New Zealand’s language and a language for all New Zealanders,” Mr Apanui said.
“Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori has played a big part in making the language accessible to people across Aotearoa New Zealand.
“This gives us hope of achieving the goal of one million speakers of te reo Māori by 2040,” he said.
Those wanting to participate in Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori can join by signing up on reoMaori.co.nz
People can upload their moment and share why they are learning te reo Māori.
Users who signed up for previous Māori language Moments can also head to Reo Māori to update their information in time for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori.
ReoMaori.co.nz features many resources to help people prepare for Māori Language Week.
These include language tool kits, ideas on what you can do for Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori, how to print your own Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori hoodies and more.
If you have anything planned for the Māori Language Moment or anything about learning, speaking or teaching te reo Māori and want to share it with The Gisborne Herald, contact Kaupapa Māori reporter Matai O’Connor at matai.oconnor@gisborneherald.co.nz
