Huia Te Reo 2010

Huia Te Reo, a two day Māori language expo event which also includes the Māori Language Awards, will take place at the Rotorua Energy and Events Centre tomorrow, starting with a pōwhiri at 8:30am.

The expo, scheduled for tomorrow, will feature providers and organisations from across the language sector exhibiting all the products, programmes, grand ideas and resources created to support te reo Māori.

Presentations will also run concurrently from successful Māori language initiatives, including a summary of Mā Te Reo projects and achievements over the last nine years. Representatives from local iwi Ngāti Rongomai will also present their localized strategy for language revitalisation.

There will also be opportunities to ‘engage’ with the language via interactive presentations and activities including a demonstration by Tolaga Bay Area School of the traditional Māori game “Te Kī o Rahi”; Zumba in te reo Māori; and a taonga puoro (traditional Māori instruments) demonstration.

The hui will conclude on Saturday with the morning devoted to an interactive panel discussion with Commissioners of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori - past and present -keen to share their experience of Māori language revitalisation in the context of the communities and groups they have served over many years.

The Māori Language Awards will be held at the Energy Events Centre on the evening of Saturday 9 October, starting at 6pm. 28 finalists across 15 categories have been identified across categories which include: Private Sector; Community; Local Government; Government; Broadcasting – Mainstream; Broadcasting Māori Media; Print; IT and Telecommunications; Education – Mainstream; Education – Māori Medium; Tertiary; Māori Language Week; Te Tira Aumangea; Taku Toa Takimano; Supreme.

The expo event is free to attend, however attendees are required to register.

Tickets for the Māori Language Awards are still available but going fast. To enquire about booths at the expo and/or general queries please ring toll free on 0800 6283736, or email reception@tetaurawhiri.govt.nz