Māori Language Week sees Rotorua celebrating and learning the language

Hannah Swale, Rotorua Library youth and early learning support, reads a book to children at the He Aka Pikirangi session for under 5s, which is solely in te reo Māori.

There has been no shortage of inspiration or opportunity for those wanting to celebrate and learn more te reo Māori during this year's Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Māori Language Week.

Te Wiki o te reo Māori started on Mondayand runs until Sunday.

There have been a range of events taking place, allowing for the community to get involved in the celebration.

Events throughout the week have included tukutuku panel colouring, Māori short films, reo talks, performance of the Ngā Puke play, a trilingual book series launch, local Māori performances, a Māori writers evening and a living book with Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey.

This Sunday at the Rotorua Farmers' Market people will be able to enjoy listening to Māori performers as they shop.

Families will also be able to spend quality time together on Sunday with a screening of the animated film Moana being screened in te reo Maori.

It will be shown at Reading Cinema at 10.30am and bookings are required through Rotorua Lakes Council. It is a canned food donation per ticket, with a maximum of four tickets per person.

A parade celebrating the end of Māori Language Week will also take place on Sunday, 1pm to 1.30pm, at the Rotorua Lakefront. It is free to watch.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick says it is wonderful to have had so many events organised for the week.

"This is obviously a week that's growing in momentum, and it's great to see people having a go and I think that's inspirational."

She says she has seen a lot of people downloading apps and growing their vocabulary.

"I think it's exciting. I would like to see it be a part of everyday life. We will get there in Rotorua with Reorua."

Steve thinks one of the most profound things she has seen this week was at the citizenship ceremony on Tuesday when new citizens used the language when introducing themselves and telling their stories.

She says they feel a sense of pride and belonging in adopting te reo Māori.

"I'm loving hearing it around me as I'm moving through the district this week."

The council's kaitiaki ahurea Māori, Monty Morrison says te reo Māori is a taonga unique to Aotearoa.

"It's been just over a year since our district made the commitment to advance as a bilingual city. Rotorua Reorua, which is being led by Te Tatau o Te Arawa with support from council, reminds us that ... it's up to us as a community to breathe life into te reo Māori every day.

"The beauty of Rotorua Reorua is that this year, groups and individuals across our community have organised a variety of events and initiatives to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

"We have noticed a number of events for people of all ages no matter what their level of reo Māori proficiency and can be accessed by anyone in the community."