Revitalisation of te reo Māori

Lake Heron, Taylor Range (Canterbury). Source: Michal Klajban / Wikimedia Commons. 

With a few different meanings, language revitalisation in the context of Māori refers to attempts to reverse the decline of a language – ensuring through the efforts of everyone, te reo is preserved.  

Like with English and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), te reo is an official language of Aotearoa.  

“Language is at the very heart of a culture. Reo is whakapapa and identity,” said Culture and Heritage worker Georgia Hampton.  

“It defines who we are, and where we come from. It is the doorway to understand Te Aō Māori - the Māori world, and its’ concepts,” Hampton said.  

Language and culture are pillars of identity, and are meaningful to both individuals and as part of a hapori. Like with many languages, the journey of te reo can start from birth, or can be connected with later in life. Each experience will differ, depending on the person and circumstances. 

“My journey towards reconnecting to my Māoritanga several years ago coincided with the start of my te reo Māori learning journey. Learning and speaking te reo Māori makes me feel connected to my culture, and identity as Māori,” said Tanita Bidois, a Māori lecturer, researcher and writer. 

“I hope to continue my learning journey and speaking te reo Māori unapologetically, inspiring and encouraging my whānau and friends to learn and speak too.” 

Challenges for preserving te reo have arisen in modern companies and organisations who have not yet embraced the language in working culture. As well as this, the harmful and contrary views regarding te reo and its use in daily life can pose an issue for those who want to use it.  

“Sadly, negative attitudes about te reo Māori can have implications for some learners and speakers. Additionally, there are still some workplaces and organisations that either do not use te reo Māori or actively discourage its use, creating ripple effects for kaimahi, clients and the wider community,” Bidois said.  

“I think we are already seeing these challenges in fruition – the treatment of te reo as a formality, a box to check, and the backlash we see to te reo in workplaces and government offices. Reo should be celebrated for its contribution to New Zealand’s rich cultural heritage,” Hampton said.  

To focus on revitalisation in a way that is sustainable and meaningful, it is most important to come together and emphasise why it is integral for Pākehā to also embrace traditional customs and perspectives alongside Māori. 

Learning something new can be discomforting and scary, but by leaning into the values and concepts of te reo, there is an opportunity for understanding the importance of language preservation, and its history. 

“I think for Pākehā, when entering these spaces, the main thing is to come with an open mind, excited to learn. Try not to be disheartened, your engagement and support is deeply appreciated,” Hampton said. 

“There are so many steps we can take as a society, for example, the normalisation of spoken te reo in public spaces is an easy first. The compulsory teaching of te reo, and a greater breadth to the teaching of New Zealand history in schools.” 

When searching for ways to collaborate with individuals, organisations and the government to ensure long-term sustainability of te reo, it is crucial that we ensure Māori are at the forefront, driving that change. 

“They should be part of the decision-making process from start to finish. Seek them for consultation, they know the best steps for their people,” Hampton said. 

“Protect the language. Protect its use in legislation, and champion initiatives, especially amongst communities to engage with Indigenous teachings.” 

Renowned publications from around the world, such as the National Geographic, Oxford Academic, and TIME, have regarded te reo’s importance to the structure and way of life in Aotearoa. Back in March of this year, it was announced that a special edition journal about how to strengthen te reo revitalisation was launched by Māori linguists. This was to expand on current language research. 

Therefore, we cannot talk about the preservation and strengthening of language without discussing linguistics, which refers to the specific study of a language.  

For te reo, it presents interesting findings on how to properly understand and communicate the language, while being mindful of certain dialects, and factoring in the variation of verbs, endings and more. 

“As stated by Koro Dewes, “Ko te pūtake o te Māoritanga, ko te reo Māori, he taonga tuku iho nā Te Atua” - The root of Māori culture is Māori language, a gift from God,” said Forrest Panther, a lecturer of Language, Social and Political Sciences. 

“One particular area where this is relevant is to do with the retention of mita Māori - the ways of speaking Māori associated with hapū and iwi, and Māori dialects more broadly. I believe that understanding more of the factors behind this variation [of passive ending on verbs in te reo Māori] is important to understanding more about te reo Māori itself and understanding more about mita Māori and Māori dialects broadly is very important for language maintenance and revitalisation strategies.” 

Panther begins teaching a course in 2025 at UC, combining te reo and linguistics, titled “Te Mātai Reo Māori: The Grammar and Linguistics of Te Reo Māori.” 

“I think it plays a big role. It is well-known that language encapsulates aspects of the culture of the people who speak it.” Panther said. 

Te reo is all around us. It’s rich with the history of Māori ancestors, and warriors, and those alive today. No language that allows people to feel and share aroha and have a sense of identity should ever be scrutinised. 

“Throughout my te reo Māori learning journey, the majority of learners I studied with were non-Māori. The increased uptake of non-Māori learners in te reo classes, particularly those who hold roles as Kaiako and other roles of influence, are important champions of the language,” Bidois said.  

“This also includes non-Māori learners and speakers leveraging positions of power or privilege to challenge negative rhetoric about the use of te reo Māori within organisations and workplaces.” 

The individual’s I’ve spoken to, who are experts in the fields of language, culture and research, have similar views regarding the visions they have for the future of te reo. That the continued normalisation of te reo across all sectors should be focused upon, and that greater recognition and regulation of te reo Māori is required for Te Tiriti o Waitangi to be honoured and celebrated.  

Bidois hopes future learners and speakers continue to be brave, to make mistakes and to feel pride in speaking te reo Māori.