Read the Latest From BOPDHB Ce, Helen Mason - 19 September 25 Sep 2018

It was te wiki o te reo Māori week (10 to 16 September) and Kia Kaha te reo Māori was the theme for this year’s event.

Māori Language Week

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Greetings to you all.

It was te wiki o te reo Māori week (10 to 16 September) and Kia Kaha te reo Māori was the theme for this year’s event. ‘Kia Kaha’ is a well-known phrase in New Zealand, meaning ‘be strong’. We often talk about language, health, strength, and revitalisation. So when we say ‘Kia Kaha te Reo Māori’ we’re saying - ‘Let’s make the Māori language strong'.

I attended the Grand Round featuring Jo'el Komene, a taonga puroro (traditional Māori instruments) artist, musician, carver and educator. It was fascinating to hear him talk on healing with music and wonderful to hear the history of the instruments, what they are made of, and hear them demonstrated. It was a really great session. I hope you all found your own way of celebrating te wiki o te reo Māori.

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