Te Reo Maori celebrated in Rotorua

Te Reo Maori will be celebrated at the Maori Language Awards held in Rotorua.

More than 500 people from throughout the country will attend tonight's event at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre, with the Rotorua District Library and Maui Television among the finalists.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori (Maori Language Commission) chief executive Poia Rewi said the awards recognised the effort that had been made throughout the year to promote the language.

"They're held to celebrate groups and individuals who are promoting and teaching the language and provide an opportunity each year to honour and celebrate their efforts," Mr Rewi said.

"We feel the calibre is always high and from a huge range - from kura kaupapa Maori to English schools, the private sector and multinational companies like Vodafone.

"Two finalists are power companies, Trustpower and Genesis. The fact they're promoting the language through their intranet and staff development is unique and benefits the reo."

The awards are in their 10th year, with Rotorua last hosting them in 2001. MCs will be TV presenter Matai Smith and local kapa haka leader Kahurangi Maxwell.

Band Homegrown, which local Rawiri Waru of Te Arawa Communications and Te Arawa FM is a part of, will be playing.

"I've been a long advocate of te reo Maori and and we were like let's go and tautoko the kaupapa," Mr Waru said.