Māori Language Week

In 2021 Te Wiki o te Reo Māori was held Monday 13th - Sunday 19th September.

Our virtual Māori Language Moment - where we celebrate te reo from wherever we are - was held on Tuesday 14th September at 12pm.

Māori Language Week celebrates the presentation of the Māori Language Petition to parliament on the 14th September 1972. It has been marked every year since 1975.

How Te Wiki o te Reo Māori was born

Kia kaha te reo Māori

‘Kia kaha’ is well understood in New Zealand English with its meaning of ‘be strong’. We often talk about languages as if they are people – especially when we are talking about a language’s health, strength and revitalisation.

So when we say ‘Kia kaha te reo Māori’ we’re saying - ‘Let’s make the Māori language strong'.

Learn more about our logo

From parades to an online gathering

In 2016 we hosted the first Māori Language parade in Wellington. It was a new way to unite our communities and schools behind te reo. Three years later, more than 30,000 people marched in seven parades across Aotearoa. These parades become major national events uniting people from all walks of life.

In 2020, COVID-19 saw us cancel our language parades but that didn’t stop us from bringing people together. We asked 1 million people to join us for a Māori Language Moment - Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori.

At 12pm on Monday 14 September 2020, the same date and time the Māori Language Petition was delivered to parliament in 1972, 1 million answered our call. Together we made history by creating the largest, single celebration of the Māori language in history. Never have so many people ever celebrated our language together at the same time.