" Whāngaia ki te kōrero kia pehapeha ai te korokoro, tērā i te kererū i runga i te miro"

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Tēnā tātou e ngana nei ki te whakaora i tō tātou reo Māori hei reo hōrapa ki te whenua. Haere ngā mate haere. Haere i te huanui i te ara ka papatauria e te tapuwae kauika tangata. Ki a koutou te ata, waiho ki a mātou te tai ahiahi.

Ka huri ki te hunga ora. Ka mihi ki a koutou e pupuri nei i te mana o ngā tūpuna, e kohikohi nei i ngā reanga o tēnei wā ki te kaupapa nui o te reo.

He mihi whānui tēnei ki a koutou nā te tari o Mā Te Reo mō tā koutou kaha, māia ki te whakaora i te reo.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Te Whakataetae Hanga Kiriata a Mā Te Reo was a competition run as part of the television programme Pukana  in 2007.  The six kura were required to select a production crew, organise actors, filming equipment, props, costumes and locations, and make a 3-4 minute short film.  Kura were allocated a production budget and were supported by script writers and industry technicians from Cinco Cine Film Productions Ltd in Auckland. 

Segments showing behind the scenes footage from each kura and their actual short film were broadcast over six episodes of Pūkana, ending with a one-hour special ‘Oscars’ style awards ceremony in Auckland.  Cash prizes for the top three films and trophies for various categories were presented by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Te Māngai Pāho and television celebrities. 

 “This project has helped kaiako and tauira develop storytelling skills through the medium of film and television – encouraging creative use of te reo Māori within modern genre.”

Helpful tips

1. Giving tamariki the chance to use creative and innovative language in real and interesting ways makes learning language fun.
2. Give kura lots of notice of the event so they can build it into their term’s work.

A series of five rangatahi-focused wānanga reo were run throughout Te Tau Ihu to support Ngāti Rārua and Te Atiawa youth become competent leaders for the future succession, mana and development of the Ngāti Rārua Atiawa Iwi Trust.

Each of the five wānanga reo were held over a three-day weekend and open to all Ngāti Rārua Atiawa Iwi Trust beneficiaries between the ages of 13-18 years.

The wānanga were held on marae throughout Te Tau Ihu, with many of the marae whānau helping to teach the rangatahi about the tikanga of their marae. In total, 178 rangatahi participated in the wānanga, most of whom were beginner learners of te reo Māori.

“The Māori language ability improved as a result of our rangatahi hui because of the consistency and repetition of the mihimihi, waiata, kōrero and the transfer of knowledge from the kaumātua…”

Being marae-based, tikanga and manaakitanga were integral to the wānanga and rangatahi not only learnt about these processes and values, but participated in and experienced them.

Whānau of the host marae also valued the experience and are looking forward to being involved in further reo initiatives.

Helpful Tips

1. Clear communication and consultation helps to ensure that the wānanga will meet the needs of the whānau/hapū/iwi and community.

Last week at Parihaka, Te Reo o Taranaki launched the Taranaki word list He Pūranga Tākupu a Taranaki 2008.  First released as a draft nearly 10 years ago this launch was well supported by the community.  A word list is quite different to a dictionary in the content, layout and purpose.  Te Reo o Taranaki encourages users to make notes, insert their own explanations into the resource to make it a living reference.  The list was accumulated from Taranaki manuscripts, articles, waiata tawhito and Kaumatua and each word is referenced to a source and waka within the rohe. 

Importantly each word is rated along a scale of well known to not as well known. Over time it is expected that the rating scale of these words will change as their useage increases. Contact www.taranakireo.co.nz for more information or to purchase a copy of the wordlist.