Te Wiki o te Reo Maori: Course a smart way to learn the lingo

DIGITAL REO: Te Pumanawa app was launched yesterday by its developer Dr Rapata Wiri. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 250714SP2

In what is described as a New Zealand first, Waiariki Institute of Technology is offering a te reo Maori course which can be delivered through your mobile phone or tablet.

Te Pumanawa is a New Zealand Qualifications Authority-approved short award programme that can be downloaded on any mobile device as an app. It was launched yesterday at the institute with developer Dr Rapata Wiri giving those in attendance a virtual tour.

The app offers two courses - Te Reo Taketake, a Maori language course and Te Ao Maori, a bonus course which teaches aspects of tikanga Maori and the Maori world.

"It's not just an app people download and tutu (play with) but it's a fully integrated course which tutors can assess assignments that students have submitted," Dr Wiri said.

He spoke of the recognised need in the late '70s to revitalise the language which later spurred the kohanga reo movement and continued with kura kaupapa Maori and wananga Maori. Yet continuing to attract learners still remained a priority with the situation worse than what census statistics stated, he said.

"Despite our best efforts, the language is still in decline. We want to teach our language and keep it alive, we don't want it to die and our kids and mokopuna can't speak Maori.

"We need to be solution-focused and our iwi Maori need to become more productive in developing Maori language strategies. My fear as a language teacher is that we don't do anything to capture the technology available to us."

Dr Wiri said Te Pumanawa helped eliminate whakama (shyness) with students able to record themselves speaking and send it through to their tutor at Waiariki. Results will be emailed back within 24 hours. Face to face classes are also available which will be recorded and students can watch in their own time.

"A lot of our people are embarrassed that they don't know how to speak reo and they go to a classroom embarrassed that they might say it wrongly," he said.

The app pilot course will start on Monday and will cost $300 per student. Head of Waiariki's centre for business, research and enterprise Clarke Raymond said the fee was for the assessment work involving the tutors. He hoped the results of achievement from the inaugural enrolment will make it a strong case to receive Government tertiary funding.

"We're really excited to bring a new and innovative project which supports Maori development. When Rapata approached me about this we jumped at the chance. We are confident it will be a success and hope there will be an opportunity to expand this to other types of programmes at Waiariki," Mr Raymond said.

For information: www.waiariki.ac.nz.