Te Wiki o te Reo Māori / Māori Language Week is held in September ever year and is a week where New Zealanders unite to celebrate te reo Māori. 

The first Māori Language Week was held the week beginning 14 September, 1975.

While we are committed to be there to support learners all of the time, initiatives like Māori Language Week and Mahuru Māori are successful ways to mobilise people around te reo Māori.

Our online hub www.reomaori.co.nz provides online inspiration and information across the year, 365 days a year.

Each year we announce plans for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori on our website www.reomaori.co.nz.

In 2020, due to Covid-19 we cancelled our Māori language parades and created a virtual event: Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori /  Māori Language Moment. Over 1 million people joined us.

This has gone on to become an annual event held every Māori Language Week so that people from all over the world can get involved in our celebrations. 

Learn more about the Māori Language Moment here.

The Māori Language petition was presented to parliament on 14 September 1972, this date then became Māori Language Day.

In 1975 the week beginning 14 September became Māori Language Week. Although Te Wiki is usually held around this same date, the official dates are announced at the beginning of each year.

Initiatives like Māori Language Week and Mahuru Māori are successful ways to mobilise people around te reo Māori.

Mahuru Māori was launched in 2017, it challenges fluent speakers to speak te reo throughout the month of September.

In 2020, we launched a new website www.reomaori.co.nz that supports learners and supporters throughout the year, not just in September. We now have opportunities for engagement all year round.

Our hoodies aren’t available for sale. You can be in to win some merchandise by participating in our events and giveaways across our digital platforms.

Alternatively, our heitiki logo is available online to download so that you can print your own kākahu if you wish - for non-commercial use only. Download the tohu and see our Terms of Use here.

Sign up for the Māori Language Moment www.reomaori.co.nz.

Go to www.reomaori.co.nz/ideas for ideas and resources to help you celebrate Māori Language Week.

Āe. Go to http://www.reomaori.co.nz/resources to download our posters. Or for print and digital versions of our heitiki logo, go here.

Make sure to add your event to our Reo Māori event calendar.

Yes, but there are rules. Our logo and brand guidelines are available here. We also have social media graphics you can use for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori that are released first on www.reomaori.co.nz/resources.

Language planning is an evidence-based approach that is particularly useful in the revitalisation of Indigenous and endangered languages.

A plan is a document that takes into account planning within your own organisation's context. Your organisation may be able to do a little or a lot. The main thing is to start and continue looking at how effective you have been and if there is more you can do. 

A plan provides a focus and means of keeping everyone on track towards achieving their language goals. It can be as simple or as comprehensive as you want. There is no one size fits all as can be seen from the various plans that have already been developed in the public and private sectors. 

Learn more about language planning here.

All public service departments have been directed by Cabinet to complete language plans.

Language plans are being developed by many other public sector organisations, businesses and community organisations. They are an effective way of contributing to the revitalisation of the Māori language.

A Māori language plan can help ensure that efforts to revitalise Māori language are carefully directed to be as effective as possible. 

Through developing and implementing a language plan, your organisation will:

• Contribute to the revitalisation of te reo Māori
• Enhance your organisation’s relationships with Māori
• Strengthen your identity as a New Zealand organisation
• Increase your organisational health by growing a confident and capable workforce
• Meet other organisational goals that are enhanced by the use of te reo Māori such as Crown-Iwi relations, diversity and inclusion and cultural responsiveness.   

See Language Planning for more information on how to start.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori recommends the following Language Planning Process:

• Self-Assessment (4-6weeks)
• Plan Development (6-8weeks)
• Plan Implementation (9-12months)
• Review and Refresh (6-8weeks)

See Language Planning for more information on how to start.

See Language Planning for more information on how to start.

If you are in the public sector, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori can help your organisation by:

• Providing strategic advice and planning support 
• Collaborating on policy outcomes and aspirations for te reo Māori where possible
• Providing technical expertise on a case by case basis
• Providing language planning resources and support to assist you to design, implement, monitor and evaluate your Māori language plan
• Working with you to ensure that the actions set out within the language plan are sustainable for ongoing implementation, evaluation and review
• Celebrating and promoting your achievements

We do not yet offer one-on-one advice for the private sector but you can download our templates and get started here: Language Planning.

Organisations should work within current baselines to support revitalisation of te reo Māori. There are actions that organisations can take that have minimal financial impact such as:

• Replacing signage with bilingual signage during normal maintenance
• Developing the policy framework to support the revitalisation effort in the future e.g. email greetings and sign-offs
• Using the resources on this website and www.reomaori.co.nz

We are currently developing a tool to enable shared learning and participation through this site.

We recommend using the organisational capability maturity framework - E Tipu found in our tools section. We also have a questionnaire to help you assess where you are in that framework.

See more templates here: Language Planning

A strategy focuses on the big picture, a plan zooms in on what your organisation is going to do and what steps your organisation is going to take to achieve your organisation’s goals. If you are a public sector department, your strategy is the Crown's Māori Language Strategy, the Maihi Karauna.

Encouraging staff and the public to make a conscious effort to:

• Use Māori greetings such as kia ora, tēnā koe, tēnā kōrua, tēnā koutou, haere rā, e noho rā
• Use Māori greetings in all email correspondence
• Set a regular time for te reo Māori conversations in your organisation, such as a lunchtime:
  • Māori language games session
  • Māori language classes
  • Kīwaha o te wiki/expression of the week e.g. Tautoko! (I support that)
  • Promoting te reo Māori on your intranet.

See www.reomaori.co.nz/ideas for more ideas.

We don’t offer translation services directly, however we have a register of licensed translators and interpreters here. You can search the register to find someone that suits your translation or interpretation needs and contact them directly.

We don’t offer translation services directly, however we have a register of licensed translators and interpreters here. You can also use the following resources for short translations:

Māori Dictionary
A free online Māori dictionary with word definitions and pronunciation audio bytes.

Ōkupu
A translation request app - uber for translations! Costs apply.

These are also good resources to learn and practice correct spelling and pronunciation.

We acknowledge all iwi dialects and refer you to local iwi and hapū for advice related to local knowledge.

Our website www.reomaori.co.nz is the hub for all things te reo Māori. Here you can find resources, events, courses, stories and more for people at any stage of their language journey.

We have two resource libraries: one showing our own developed resources, and another directory of our favourite resources created by others.

We have a course directory on our website www.reomaori.co.nz/courses: the hub for all things te reo Māori. You can search using our handy filters and search by region. Tirohia! Check it out!

Our website www.reomaori.co.nz is the hub for all things te reo Māori. Here you can find resources, events, courses, stories and more for people at any stage of their language journey.

We have two resource libraries: one showing our own developed resources, and another directory of our favourite resources created by others.

Our Te Wiki o te Reo Māori resources can be found in our resource library here.

Our website www.reomaori.co.nz is the hub for all things te reo Māori. Here you can find resources, events, courses, stories and more for people at any stage of their language journey.

Sure! We’ll pass it on to the team. Email [email protected] with your suggestions. Nau mai e te whakaaro.

We do not offer tikanga Māori advice. Go to Te Puni Kōkiri.

We commission research to help document and further revitalisation efforts in Aotearoa. See all of our published reports here.

We do not fund research projects.

Check out our research library for publications in te reo Māori research. 

For anything else, get in touch with us at [email protected].

Our merchandise isn’t for sale. As a government agency there are restrictions on the sorts of commercial activities we can be involved in. 

You can be in to win some merchandise by participating in our events and giveaways across our digital platforms:

• Reo Māori website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• TikTok
• LinkedIn

Alternatively, our heitiki logo is available online to download so that you can print your own kākahu if you wish - for non-commercial use only. Download the tohu and read our Terms of Use here.

This logo is available for public use to support revitalisation efforts. You can print your own merchandise using our logo as long as there is no commercial gain involved - our tohu it is not to be sold or profited from in any scenario. 

You are allowed to print hoodies and other merchandise for your workplace, school or group as long as there is no markup applied. You must organise your own printer and supplier. 

By using our logo you agree to adhere to our Brand Guidelines and Terms of Use. Download our heitiki logo for print here.

As a government agency there are restrictions on the sorts of commercial activities we can be involved in. 

Our logo is available for public use to support revitalisation efforts. You can print your own merchandise using our logo as long as there is no commercial gain involved - our tohu it is not to be sold or profited from in any scenario. 

You are allowed to print hoodies and other merchandise for your workplace, school or group as long as there is no markup applied. You must organise your own printer and supplier. 

By using our logo you agree to adhere to our brand guidelines and T&Cs. Download our heitiki logo for print here.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori managed the Mā Te Reo fund until 2016. We no longer have a funding arm. See our partners below for funding opportunities:

Te Mātāwai 
Manages the Mā te Reo fund which offers pūtea tautoko for revitalisation projects and events for iwi and hapū. They fund a range of projects for Māori by Māori, for example: kura reo, reo symposiums, online courses and resources for iwi and hapū.

Te Māngai Pāhō
The Māori broadcasting funding agency who offer pūtea tautoko for entertainment and media that helps to revitalise te reo Māori. Some media include: tv shows, movies, digital campaigns, and most recently, Apps.

Te Puni Kōkiri
The Ministry for Māori Development have a variety of funding rounds for Māori. Not all are focussed on the language but are worth checking out. 

Ministry for Culture & Heritage
Offer funding for projects or events that contribute to our culture including national events such as Waitangi Day, and history and art projects.

Creative New Zealand
Has a number of funding streams, some specifically for Māori - see Ngā Toi Māori.

We work closely with our stakeholders and partners to tautoko their kaupapa and events. We are open to support national events that have potential to expose te reo Māori to a wide range of people. Get in touch at [email protected].

Toi Reo Māori is our free training course that turns highly proficient Māori/English speakers into qualified translators and interpreters. A number of wānanga are held where you will learn the art of translating and interpreting from expert tutors.

Learn more about Toi Reo Māori here.

No. There are no costs for tuition or course resources, however if travel is required for hui whakangungu, participants must cover their own transportation costs.

We will be providing 3 hui whakangungu between the months of March, April, and May in 2023. All hui whakangungu and whakamātautau will be facilitated online.

To enrol into the programme, all participants are required to complete a pre-entry assessment that consists of two translation tasks. These will be marked; however, the results will not be returned to you as they do not constitute a formal assessment and are merely to provide the tutors an opportunity to gauge your current translation ability and suitability for the programme.

Prospective candidates must be:

• an extremely high proficient speaker and writer of the Māori language
• an extremely high proficient speaker and writer of the English language, to ensure one’s ability to transfer ideas and communicate with both languages confidently
• capable to translate the essence of any kōrero, as well as literal translations
• certified with a degree level qualification in Māori studies or must have successfully completed an equivalent te reo Māori qualification above Level 9
• successful in completing other studies at Tertiary level; and

• prospective candidates must have at least 10 years’ experience in studying, researching, teaching, speaking, and writing Māori, as well as an extensive and excellent knowledge of the English language
• successful candidates must become “active translators”, which includes, but is not limited to, making yourself available to complete and actively respond to translation requests; and
• this course is similar to that of a Masters’ level degree. The expectation is that all applicants will be capable to participate in class work at this level confidently.

Toi Reo Māori examinations are held yearly, this year's exam will be in May 2023.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori is entitled under schedule 6 of the Māori Language Act 2016 ‘to award certificates of competency in the translation and interpretation of the Māori language’.

In order to be accepted in the Toi Reo Māori certification programme, prospective candidates must successfully pass the entrance assessment that requires an 80% pass rate. There is a section in the pre-entry that assesses the written capability of the candidate in the Māori and English language, another section provides an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their wider knowledge and technical language skills, to determine for themselves if they are a right fit for the course.

Āe.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori promotes a standard form of Māori, agreed to by experts and used in most dictionaries, grammars, education, broadcasting and most public sector agencies. We will provide participants with a copy of the Orthographic Convention Guidelines to assist you during this course. We ask that all participants adhere to these. Please see the link to the Guidelines on our website: Māori Language Orthography.

Yes. There are three internal written assessments during the course, each assessment is worth 30% each and one written examination which is worth 10%, totalling 100%. If you are invited to undergo the oral interpretation examination, this consists of 100%.

A laptop, on-line or hard-copy dictionaries, notebook and other resources that will help you during the course.

Registrations will close at 5pm, on Tuesday, 31 January 2023. Register now.

If you or someone you know is a translator and/or interpreter licenced by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and not on the register, you can add your details by filling in this form. 

If you belong to a media outlet and want an interview or comment from our organisation, email [email protected]. 

Media enquiries will be responded to promptly.

We have commissioned research about te reo Maori which you can find here.

If you have a kaupapa that promotes te reo Māori or supports revitalisation, let us know. Email [email protected] with the details and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Kāo, no. We don’t have any ad space available to purchase on any of our websites. 

If you have a kaupapa that promotes te reo Māori or supports revitalisation, let us know. Email [email protected] with the details and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Check out our research library for publications in te reo Māori research. 

For anything else, get in touch with us at [email protected].

We administer the Whakamātauria Tō Reo Māori / Level Finder Examination (LFE), a national Māori language proficiency examination. The exam provides a general indicator of a candidate’s ability to aurally recognise words and their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.

For more information about LFE, click here.

When 20 or more people in your region have expressed their interest to sit the LFE, Te Taura Whiri exam coordinators will arrange a sitting venue in your region, a date and time. These details will be communicated via email advising the confirmed exam date, time and venue as well as a link to a registration form for the confirmed exam sitting.

Once you have these details, you attend and sit the exam and await results. 

Learn more about how to apply here.

Yes, you can book your workplace in to sit the LFE. 

For a corporate booking of 20 or more people, Te Taura Whiri exam coordinators can organise to hold the LFE at your workplace. 

Learn more about how to apply here.

LFE exams can take place all year round, however our exam coordinators need time to arrange venues, dates and times as well as travel. 

Learn more about LFE here.

You don’t have to pay to sit the LFE, however please take into account any travel costs you may incur getting to the venue. 

Learn more about LFE here.

We are exploring options to make this available online in the future.

You must have permission to use our corporate logo. If you have been granted permission you can download our logo here.

Our heitiki logo is available for the public to use to support te reo Māori revitalisation efforts. You can use it for events and presentations, but cannot use it for commercial gain. Download our heitiki logo here.

You can print your own merchandise using our logo as long as there is no commercial gain involved - our tohu it is not to be sold or profited from in any scenario. 

You are allowed to print hoodies and other merchandise for your workplace, school or group as long as there is no markup applied. You must organise your own printer and supplier. By using our logo you agree to adhere to our brand guidelines and T&Cs.

Download our heitiki logo for print here.

Our heitki logo is available for the public to use to support te reo Māori revitalisation efforts. You can use it for events and presentations, but cannot use it for commercial gain. 

By using our logo you agree to adhere to our brand guidelines and T&Cs.

Download our heitiki logo here.