What is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori? How can I get involved? Why is Māori Language Week held in September? Why just a week? Why not a month or year? Where can I buy merchandise? How can my organisation register for Māori Language Week? What are some ideas for organisations to celebrate Māori Language Week? Can I get posters for my event? Can I use the Māori Language Week heitiki logo for my event?

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

  • What is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori?

    Answer

    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 new online hub www.reomaori.co.nz will, for the first time, provide online inspiration and information across the year, 365 days a year.

  • How can I get involved?

    Answer

    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.

  • Why is Māori Language Week held in September?

    Answer

    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.

  • Why just a week? Why not a month or year?

    Answer

    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.

  • Where can I buy merchandise?

    Answer

    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.

  • How can my organisation register for Māori Language Week?

    Answer

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

  • What are some ideas for organisations to celebrate Māori Language Week?

    Answer

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

  • Can I get posters for my event?

    Answer

    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.

  • Can I use the Māori Language Week heitiki logo for my event?

    Answer

    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.