Future of te reo with tamariki, says Rangitane

Kaumatua Nanny Noa Nicholson, 98, giving thanks for the Rangitane te reo revitlaisation and implentation plan.

Tamariki are the way forward for the implementation and revitalisation of te reo for Rangitane o Tamaki nui a Rua, Manahi Paewai says.

Rangitane launched their te reo strategy at Makirikiri Marae, nine months after "really getting stuck into the project," said chief executive Oriana Paewai,

Staff and students from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Tamaki Nui-A-Rua entertain at the launch of Rangitane Tangata Reo launch at Makirikiri Marae.

"The most important thing for our whanau is health, a nice, warm place to live and our language. Te reo is our identity and where we stand in the world.

"While we have a long way to go, we have made some huge strides in educating the wider population. Passion and forward-thinking has led us to today. "

Te Aroha Edwards, known as Aunty Dimples (left), Ruahine Maori Warden Charlie Timu and Ataneta Paewai with some of the Te Reo games and puzzles she's developed.

Mr Paewai said the benefits of being raised in a Maori-speaking world was reflected by respected kaumātua 98-year-old Nanny Noa Nicholson.

"She told us about the joys of growing up in that world, but another elder, 80, was raised in a world without all that, lacking te reo. It was pretty heartbreaking to stand, looking in a mirror and seeing a Maori face, but no reo (Maori voice).

"We've taken a lot of learning from that."

Dannevirke South School principal Stephen Snell greets a kura student with a traditional hongi.

William Knight, a teacher at Appleton Kindergarten, received a community copy of the te reo revitalisation and implementation plan and told the Dannevirke News it was a huge honour.

"I think it's a little bit of a reflection of some of the work we've done as a kindergarten, building relationships with Rangitane," he said. "As an individual and an educator, there is still a long way to go but this is a huge step in the right direction for te reo."

Tuehu Harris, from Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori, in Porirua, said te reo was what made New Zealand unique.

"It's also lovely to hear the uniqueness of Rangitane in your resources too," he said.

Mr Paewai said while they want to make sure every child learned the language of our land, wanting them to be the best English speakers, it was also important for them to have the language of the soul - their native language.

Tararua District mayor Tracey Collis said she was grateful to the Rangitane elders for keeping the pressure on.

"As the language grows, you will too," she said. "I'm really excited you are going to hear, see and touch and feel your language."