Māori language month at Massey

Te Marama o te Reo (Māori Language Month) at Massey will be in full swing next week as the nation celebrates Māori Language Week.

This year’s theme is "arohatia te reo" (cherish the language), which will see the University’s homepage translated into Māori, an online quiz in Māori and the return of kōrero kawhe, where students and staff who order their coffee at campus café’s in Māori receive a bilingual fortune cookie for their efforts. Other activities planned include reo classes, waiata sessions, tree plantings and hangi.

At the Manawatū campus on Friday an amazing race, modelled on the reality television game show, is planned – in te reo Māori. Another Manawatū event, dubbed tīwaha (speak up), is a weekly informal Māori language mentoring group open to staff and students run by Massey staff, including Te Pūtahi-a-Toi – School of Māori Studies lecturer Dr Darryn Joseph, National Centre for Teaching and Learning teaching consultant Katarina Gray and Massey Library Kaihautü Māori Sheeanda Field.

Staff took part in a trial tīwaha session yesterday, playing cards in te reo. Dr Joseph says tīwaha is not just for fluent speakers. “It’s for anyone who wants to improve or use their Māori language skills in a supportive environment, outside of a classroom setting.”

In previous years Dr Joseph ran a similar group and has revived the concept for Manawatū staff and students looking for an opportunity to improve their reo Māori skills are encouraged to join tīwaha on Wednesday’s between 1-2pm at the student centre.

Follow tīwaha on Facebook and Twitter.

Find out more about Massey’s Te Marama o te Reo activities here.