Every year, Aotearoa celebrates Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week, a time dedicated to honouring, uplifting, and revitalising our indigenous language. For Māori, te reo is not just a means of communication. It is a taonga, a treasure that connects us to our tīpuna (ancestors), our whenua (land), and our identity.
The History of Māori Language Week
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori began in 1975, following a petition signed by more than 30,000 people calling for te reo Māori to be taught in schools. What started as a small initiative has grown into a powerful nationwide movement, inspiring more people than ever to learn, speak, and embrace te reo.
Today, it is celebrated across kura, workplaces, marae, and communities. It has become a cornerstone of Aotearoa’s cultural calendar, reminding us all that te reo Māori is for everyone.
Why Te Reo Māori Matters
For generations, colonisation threatened to silence te reo. By the mid-20th century, the language was at risk of being lost. But through the dedication of Māori leaders, activists, and communities, te reo has been revitalised and continues to grow stronger each year.
Te reo Māori carries our whakapapa (genealogy), tikanga (customs) and mātauranga (knowledge). Every kupu (word) reflects a worldview, giving us insight into how our tīpuna understood the world. Preserving and promoting the language is about more than words, it’s about protecting identity, culture, and the future of te ao Māori.
How You Can Celebrate Māori Language Week
No matter your level of fluency, there are many ways to celebrate and honour te reo Māori during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori:
• Learn new kupu (words): Start with everyday phrases like kia ora (hello), mōrena (good morning), or ka pai (well done).
• Use te reo daily: Add kupu into conversations at home, work, or school. Small steps create lasting habits.
• Support Māori businesses: Many pakihi Māori incorporate te reo into their products and storytelling.
• Sing waiata: Music is a powerful way to connect with language and culture.
• Join events: Many communities host workshops, performances, or wānanga during Māori Language Week.
• Teach tamariki: Encourage children to learn and use te reo; they are the future kaitiaki of our language.
A Modern Movement
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is not just for Māori, it is for everyone in Aotearoa and the world. By using te reo, even in simple ways, we show respect for tangata whenua and contribute to keeping the language alive.
The resurgence of te reo is a reminder of resilience, strength, and unity. Every kupu spoken is an act of aroha and resistance, proving that the language once suppressed is now thriving again.
Celebrating Te Reo Māori in Australia
This year, we are excited to see Westfield Coomera celebrate Māori Language Week with a special Konei AU pop-up shop. The event brings together a number of Māori brands, including ours, to share and celebrate Māori culture in the heart of Australia.
It’s moments like these that remind us how far te reo Māori has travelled, beyond Aotearoa, across the world, carried proudly by Māori and embraced by others who want to learn and connect. To see our culture represented in spaces like Westfield by supportive collectives like Konei AU is powerful, and we are proud to stand alongside other pakihi Māori in this kaupapa.
Mānawatia te Reo!
At Mātātuhi Designs, te reo Māori is woven into everything we create, from the designs on our apparel to the words we share in our blogs and social spaces. We believe that te reo is for everyone, and by celebrating it together, we ensure it continues to flourish for generations to come.
This Māori Language Week, let’s celebrate our language with pride. Speak it, share it, learn it, live it.
Mānawatia te Reo — Let’s celebrate the language!
