Ma te Reo offers funding for local language bodies

Maori Language Commission acting chief executive Pita Paraone. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Te Taura Whiri i te reo Maori - the Maori Language Commission is encouraging those in Rotorua and local organisations interested in hosting Maori language initiatives to apply for funding support from its Ma te Reo fund.

In recent years the fund has helped a number of whanau produce resources, increase their understanding of traditional waiata, host wananga as well as a wide range of other te reo Maori language initiatives.

Maori Language Commission acting chief executive Pita Paraone said this was a chance for locally driven and locally focussed te reo initiatives to get support and perhaps build on growing language proficiency in the regions.

"Whether it is holding wananga whaikorero, wananga karanga or weekly language classes the criteria is flexible enough to accommodate most initiatives," Mr Paraone said.

"Many iwi-based organisations have sought our assistance as they work to revive and maintain their own iwi and hapu-led Maori language strategies.

"It is an exciting time for te reo Maori because we know that it is a critical component in determining individual identity," Mr Paraone said.

Statistics New Zealand released the findings of New Zealand's first survey on Maori well-being conducted in 2013 which showed 55 per cent of Maori adults had some ability to speak te reo Maori compared with 42 per cent in 2001.

"I believe this figure shows that there is a growing number learning te reo Maori and as such the role of funding initiatives like Ma te Reo will continue to have a positive effect on reviving our language in the regions,' Mr Paraone said.

Applications close on August 29.

Maori translation

Tenei Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori te powhiri atu nei i nga tangata, otira i nga ropu-a-rohe e hiahia ana kia noho ko ratou hei whakarite kaupapa reo Maori, kia tono putea awhina mai i te kaupapa o Ma te Reo.

I enei tau tata, kua puta etahi rauemi tino ataahua i raro i te maru o tenei putea, kua piki te maramatanga ki nga waiata tawhito maha, kua tu ona wananga reo, me te tini noa iho o nga kokiri mo te reo Maori.

E ai ki a Pita Paraone, Tumuaki Kairiwhi mo te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori he whainga wahi tenei mo nga kaupapa i huaina i roto i nga rohe, i whakatinanatia hoki e te iwi kainga, kia awhinatia, me kore e tupu mai te reo ki tona tino pakari i nga takiwa.

"Ahakoa wananga whaikorero, ahakoa wananga karanga, ahakoa akoranga reo a-wiki, he tawariwari nga taiepa o te kaupapa, e uru mai ai te nuinga o nga momo kokiri reo," e ai ki a Pita.

"He tini ana nga ropu-a-iwi kua tae mai ki te kimi awhina i a matou, i a ratou e mahi ana ki te whakaora, ki te hapai hoki i o ratou rautaki reo a-iwi, a-hapu. "He tino wa whakaohomauri tenei mo te reo Maori, ina hoki e mohio ana matou he mea tino nui te reo mo te whakatuturu i te tuakiri o ia tangata, o ia tangata" te ki a Pita.

Na Tatauranga Aotearoa i whakaputa nga kitenga o te tirohanga tuatahi mo te toiora o te Maori i te tau 2013, a, ko te kitenga nui i reira 55 orau o nga taipakeke Maori he ahua mohio ki te korero i te reo Maori, ara, kua piki ake i te 42 orau i te tau 2001.

"Ki taku titiro ki tenei tatauanga kei te piki haere te tokomaha e ako nei i te reo Maori, a, ka tino whai hua nga kaupapa tapae putea penei i Ma te Reo mo te whakaoranga i te reo i roto i nga rohe," e ai ki a Pita.

Kati ai nga tono hei te 29 o Hereturikoka 2014.