Whakanuia te wiki o te reo Māori
Māori language week this year is 26 July–1 August and the theme is ‘Te Mahi Kai –the Language of Food’
e reo Māori place names surround us. The language is part of all of us and this is crucial. Usehold is ownership. Te reo Māori wants to be used.
With well over 33,000 students for whom English is a second language – that is, they are from other countries – Māori-medium students are far fewer in number.
The language is kept alive by all of us. Re
sources are available in a variety of mediums, and worth looking for.
The Gazette cover photo is from Nāu te Rourou, Nāku te Rourou, a recipe book for nine to 10-year-old students in Māori-medium education and also well suited to everyone with its practical approach to language use for a subject which will always hold students’ attention.
This book is designed to complement the gardening book He Kākano i Ruia, and models quality instructional language in cooking recipes including traditional and contemporary kai. 
Nāu te Rourou, Nāku te Rourou is a bright and colourful non-fiction resource using photography to illuminate the ability of children to follow instruction to create fun and interesting kai.
Starting point for Māori language week, the Māori Language Commission site links to a huge variety of resources. ‘Māori for the Office’ is one very practical example of an instantly useful toolkit. Write letters in Māori, use office terms, answer the phone in Māori, advertise situations vacant, etc.
www.tki.org.nz is a thorough and well-used link, especially by educators.
www.akopanuku.tki.org.nz/
For Māori teaching at Years 7 to 13 (Māori- or English-medium) in any curriculum area. Access support with educational information, resources, professional development and career guidance.
http://tereomaori.tki.org.nz/
Up-to-date information and resources relevant to the teaching and learning of te reo Māori in English-medium schools.
http://tetereauraki.tki.org.nz/
‘Te Tere Auraki’ is a professional development strategy focusing on supporting schools to improve Māori students’ success in English-medium schools.
www.koreromaori.co.nz/
Kōrero Māori is for everyone who wants to speak the Māori language, or learn more about it.
Mā wai e hoe?
English version:
Paddle the canoe that carries the Māori language!
Who will paddle it?
I will with your valued assistance
And our youth will. How awesome indeed!
If we support each other and work in unison
Our canoe will take off!
And fly like a bird!
And we will complete the long journey together!
Greetings to all schools and readers throughout Aotearoa.
I have a request. An appeal perhaps. Many in Aotearoa, especially educators, have been paddling the heavily-laden canoe of Māori language together for a long time. That’s awe-inspiring! My plea is that we continue to support this important movement forward and perhaps even gather some speed by adding some new paddlers. We’ve been through some choppy waters and some rough seas but the Māori language seems to have remained buoyant and Aotearoa is the better for it. One way to sustain this positive momentum is to continue to celebrate te wiki o te reo Māori – Māori language week.
I say continue to celebrate because before the resurgence in the veneration of Matariki and the accompanying Māori new year, Māori language week had long been established in many schools and educational institutions as a time to truly show an appreciation for the indigenous language of this country.
It needs to be said that teachers, schools and learning institutions exhibiting this level of support are, in fact, demonstrating a commitment to uplifting the mana of this indigenous language and the people of this land while endeavouring to embrace a meaningful partnership based on mutual respect implicit in the Treaty of Waitangi.
To those already engaged in celebrating te wiki o te reo Māori – thank you. It means so much. And for those yet to embark on this waka and its journey, all encouragement to come on board. No-one likes to be left behind!
Uplift our paddles and stroke onward! To fascinating futures!
Tēnā koutou katoa.