Kia kaha te reo Māori! | Make the Māori language strong!

Join us this week to celebrate Te Wiki o te reo Māori (Māori Language Week) from Rāhina 13 Mahuru – Rāmere 17 Mahuru (Monday 13th September - Friday 17th September).

“Te Wiki o te reo Māori is an excellent opportunity for us all to brush up on our te reo Māori, regardless of our level of competence or confidence,” says UFBA Chief Executive Bill Butzbach.

Bill, who identifies proudly as both Te-Whanau-ā-Apanui and Whakatohea, says tangata whenua are key partners with the wider firefighting community.

“The disproportionate impact of unwanted fires on Māori, their status as tangata whenua, and their growing holdings of land and forests, means our relationship with Māori is an important one.

“One of the best ways to nurture this relationship is through a better understanding of te reo Māori. Fire and Emergency have put together some excellent resources online to help make the mahi fun.”

Bill says he encourages members to check out Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s online resources, which include multi-media and interactive elements covering three key themes:

• The Māori alphabet and pronunciation of Māori words
• Understanding what’s behind a pepeha (personal introduction in te reo)
• Understanding and learning the Fire and Emergency Karakia (prayer in te reo)

“Learning is best when it is relevant and enjoyable. I would like to congratulate Fire and Emergency New Zealand for putting together such an excellent suite of material that achieves on both counts.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is running Kawhe me te Kōrero (Coffee and Chats), which are online te reo Māori classes with professional ngā kaiako (teachers), all next week. Sign up here.