Ko tōku reo tōku ohooho, ko tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea. My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul.

Last week we celebrated Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. The Maori Language Petition was presented to Parliament on 14 September 1972, on the first Māori Language Day. Three years later it became a week long celebration. We're proud to share the ways we joined in and provide you with some opportunities to try at home.

We started the week with karakia and raising the Tino Rangatiratanga flag at 8am. 

On Mane afternoon, our kapa haka performed for the residents at the Bethsaida Retirement Village.

Games in the quad on Turei lunchtime kept everyone on their toes, and a number of students joined in the Putiputi workshop during long whānau time on Wenerei.

You could have a go at making your own flax flower at home >>click here to follow along. Some of the other activities shared on Wenerei that you could also try at home include Kupu of the day Wordle, and if some time out is what you need, try Orongo (Māori Meditation - 5 mins) >>click here. Lunchtime performances in the hall on Paraire was a fantastic end to the week. 

So, don't be shy - check out the links below to few more opportunities for you to take part and join the movement to grow 1 million speakers of te reo Maori by 2040. Find out more about the movement here at https://www.reomaori.co.nz/about
Learn Top 1000 Māori words - you'll have to make an account but it's free

Top 1000 Māori Words - by Quabazaa - Memrise

Listen to the Reo Māori Spotify playlist.

Te Reo Chatterbox >>click here

Collaborative Whakatauki Puzzle >>click here

Ngā mihi nui to Alex Brown, Manutaki Māori, and her team for leading our celebration of te reo Māori last week.