Getting involved with Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is an excellent pathway to Hauora.

It’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori - Māori language week. While some of us see this as a fun opportunity to use te reo a bit more in our everyday lives or in the classroom, it’s important to remember that this week signifies more than just saying “kei te pēhea koe?” to a friend (although that’s great if you do, and in case you were wondering, kei te pai). This week is all about making an effort to strengthen an identity and culture that was almost lost in Aotearoa. 

Our connection with our whakapapa (ancestry) and kaupapa (culture and beliefs), is an essential part of hauora (wellbeing). These aspects help to give us history, meaning, a sense of belonging and a sense of identity. When these parts of our life are taken away, it leaves us ungrounded and unconnected - this can make it difficult to align ourselves with what keeps us feeling toa (strong) and well. So remember, whenever you are using te reo, you are not simply learning a language, you are also assisting in keeping a culture alive - and that is a fantastic way to support the hauora of our community.