Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Celebrates 50 Years of Language Revival

Aotearoa New Zealand has officially commenced the celebration of **Te Wiki o te Reo Māori**, marking its **50th anniversary** this week. The initiative began in **1972** following a historic petition signed by over **30,000** people advocating for the teaching of te reo Māori in schools. By **1975**, the single day of recognition evolved into a week-long celebration, becoming a significant movement across the nation.

Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, chief executive of the **Māori Language Commission (Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori)**, highlighted the importance of this milestone as a tribute to the generations who have fought for the preservation and revitalization of the language. He noted, “Māori Language Week existed before te reo was an official language. It existed before the Māori Language Commission did. That’s how powerful this kaupapa is – it was built by the people.”

Over the decades, Te Wiki has transformed from grassroots efforts, including marches and radio jingles, to expansive national campaigns featuring bilingual broadcasts and a strong online presence. The recent **Māori Language Moment**, which garnered participation from over **one million** individuals, exemplifies this growth. Apanui-Barr remarked on the significant shift in public perception, stating, “We’ve gone from a time when te reo Māori was barely heard in public, to a time when it’s sung in stadiums, spoken in workplaces, and celebrated in our homes.”

The week plays a crucial role in fostering confidence among individuals learning the language. Rawinia Higgins, the Māori Language Commissioner, spoke to RNZ about the challenges many face, including language anxiety. She emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment for newcomers, stating, “Te Wiki gives people the licence to just give it a go. You never know when that might be the turning point for someone.”

Higgins further noted that while many fluent speakers participate in month-long challenges like **Māhuru Māori**, Te Wiki is specifically designed to welcome non-Māori and beginners. “Our role is to lead and coordinate the Maihi Karauna, which focuses on making the language heard and used throughout the country,” she explained. “Te Wiki is the week that everybody gets to do that without being whakamā, without being embarrassed.”

As the celebration progresses, Higgins has encouraged everyone to embrace the language as part of their identity. She issued a challenge to the public: “Toitū te reo Māori, don’t be embarrassed and kōrero Māori as much as you can. Embrace it as a celebration of who we are and our identity as Aotearoa.”

Looking forward to the next fifty years, Higgins envisions a future where bilingualism is the norm for generations to come. “My hope is that in fifty years’ time our tamariki and mokopuna are high-functioning bilinguals,” she stated. “Around the world, multilingualism is the norm, and I want that to be our reality too.”

This year’s theme, “Ake Ake Ake,” meaning “Forever and Ever,” reflects both the resilience and evolution of te reo Māori. According to Te Taura Whiri, the theme signifies the enduring nature of the language and the dedication of communities across Aotearoa to its preservation. Apanui-Barr reiterated this sentiment, describing te reo Māori as “our enduring language, a language that, no matter what’s trying at it, manages to survive.”

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is filled with various events designed to promote the use of te reo Māori, including a reo parade along the Wellington waterfront, a series of informative webinars, and the launch of **Pūtahi Mahara**, a digital time capsule for recording messages to future generations, set to be opened in **2075**. Additionally, participants can engage with “50 Wero Reo Māori,” a collection of fifty language challenges aimed at individuals of all proficiency levels, encouraging the sharing of kupu, waiata, and personal reo moments online.

The ongoing celebrations highlight not only the achievements of the past fifty years but also the commitment to ensuring that te reo Māori continues to thrive in Aotearoa and beyond.