Join us as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week in Aotearoa.

Stay tuned for a story sharing simple ways to bring more te reo Māori into everyday life, starting with the reo already all around us.

We’ll take a closer look at some of our local place names, including Tapawera, Motupiko, Kohatu, Wangapeka, Wai-iti and Motueka. We'll explore their meanings, how to pronounce them, and some of the stories connected with the whenua (land), awa (rivers) and places we call home.

It’s also a great opportunity to learn some everyday kupu (words), reflect on your own connection to place, and perhaps start learning more about your mihi or pepeha.

You don’t need to be fluent, and you don’t need to know where to start. Pick up one new kupu, practise saying a local place name, listen to some waiata, or simply give te reo Māori a go.

Kia kaha te reo Māori – let’s help te reo Māori thrive in our community.

Here’s an example of a pepeha

If you are Māori, your pepeha may include your own ancestral maunga, awa, iwi, hapū and marae. If you don’t have Māori whakapapa (ancestry), a mihi can be a great way to introduce yourself and share where you come from, where you live and the people important to you.

Ko Tūao Wharepapa te maunga
Tūao Wharepapa is the mountain I acknowledge/connect with.

Ko Motueka te awa
Motueka is the river.

Nō Ōtautahi ahau
I am from Christchurch.

Kei Tapawera tōku kāinga
My home is in Tapawera.

Ko Doe tōku whānau
Doe is my family.

Ko John Doe ahau
I am John Doe.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Tūao Wharepapa / the Wharepapa–Arthur Range and the Motueka River are both significant local landmarks, and iwi sources pair them in local pepeha.