E kīa nei, ko te reo Māori te mauri o te mana Māori nō reira he mihi maioha ki a rātou ngā rōpū whakaora i tō tātou reo rangatira i ngā piki i ngā heke kua eke rātou hei toa o te ao Māori kei mate tarakihi tēnei reo, he reo kia tika he reo kia rere he reo kia Māori. Kua kitea ngā hua o Te Ātaarangi, o Te Kohanga Reo me ngā Kura Kaupapa. Waihoki, he kaupapa anō tā ia iwi kia piki te ora o tōna reo ake. Ahakoa tērā, ka whakaaro tonu ki ngā ara pai rawa kia mau tonu te reo i Aotearoa. Nō reira, e te iwi, kia tūpato kei kiriora mātou, kei ngaro tēnei reo motuhake ki tua o te ārai. Ko tētahi raru o tēnei whawhai, ko te mahi o te reo Pākehā me tōna rahi i te hāpori me te kāinga, engari i tēnei wiki whakahirahira, ka whakaaro atu ki te nuinga e kore e mārama nei ki te reo Māori. Ko tēnei te wiki e tū whakahīhī ana ngā tauira Māori ki te reo me ōna tikanga. Engari, ia tau, ia tau, ka rongo tātou i te pararāwaha a rātou e kūware i te reo. I te wiki whai muri, ka whiu kupu te tokomaha ki te tari o Salient hei whakaparahako i Te Ao Mārama. Hei whakautu, kua whakawātea tēnei wāhanga o te māheni mō te hapori whānui, arā, ka huri tēnei ki te reo Pākehā kia pāoho atu.
Given the many complaints Salient receives following Māori Language Week, we have prepared for you a collection of Māori language learning options that are available to everyone.
Option ā: Te Ātaarangi
Te Ātaarangi is a nationwide programme designed for adults to learn and speak Te Reo Māori. It is largely oral-based, and since starting in the 1970s it has gained recognition as one of the most efficient methods for learning te reo. They run year-long programmes with classes held in the evenings. They follow the same terms as the public school system, allowing for parents and those who are busy during the day. The levels vary depending on your familiarity with te reo Māori, so is helpful to those who have a basic grasp of the language but want to further their learning.
Further information can be found at their website or freephone 0800 282 272.
Option Ē: Te Ara Reo
Te Ara Reo is a programme run through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Like Te Ātaarangi it starts at basic conversational language skills for use in traditional and modern contexts. They also have evening classes to cater for those with commitments during the day. The environment of the classroom moves away from the traditional setting to one that is more comfortable and relaxed for students.
Details about the course can be found online via the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa website.
Option Ī: Te Timatanga
Te Timatanga is an introductory language class offered by Te Kawa-a-Māui, the Māori School here at Victoria University. There is a strong emphasis on oral competency in this paper, but also includes learning of reading, writing and translation skills. It is a 100-level paper with no prerequisites or restrictions worth 20 points. MAOR101 starts in trimester one of every year and is often offered during the beginning of the summer period with the follow-up MAOR102 also available.
Information can be found in the University Course Catalogue as well as the office of Te Kawa-a-Māui at 50KP.
Option Ō: Tōku Reo
Tōku Reo is a show that airs on Māori television, Monday–Friday at 3pm and 7pm. The show follows the language resources provided by John Moorfield’s Te Whanake series. It is grammar- and vocabulary-focused, with activities that draw information from speeches provided by fluent Māori speakers. The advantage of watching the show as opposed to reading the books is the listening component provided by the hosts of the show. The added advantage to this show is the ability to take the lessons in your own time and at your own pace, as the shows are also available online from the Māori Television website. Te Whanake can be found at www.tewhanake.maori.nz.
Option Ū: Look it up!
If all you want to do is understand the rest of the magazine and the brilliant content it contains, there are a multitude of dictionaries available online and at the Victoria library. A reference section dedicated to Māori- and Pacific Island-related books officially opened on Tuesday 6 July. They are also very helpful if you do choose to undertake one of the earlier options. A popular favourite for Te Reo majors is the website www.maoridictionary.com.