Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission)

Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission)was set up under the Māori Language Act 1987 to promote the use of te reo Māori as a living language and as an ordinary means of communication.

The work of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori includes:

  • Promoting and raising awareness of the Māori language and Māori language issues;
  • Promoting quality standards of written and spoken Māori through initiatives such as advanced immersion courses, a Māori language checking service, the Commission’s quarterly newsletter He Muka and public service attestation’s;
  • Administering examinations for candidates seeking formal certification as translators and interpreters;
  • Researching and formulating policy related to the promotion, maintenance and progression of the Māori language;
  • Lexical expansion work including the production of glossaries.

Visit the website of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.

Projects 2011
Matariki

Matariki is now well established as a midwinter celebration of the Māori New Zealand New Year. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori has, since 2001, through partnerships with Te Papa Tongarewa and the Ministry of Education promoted Matariki as an important focus for Māori language regeneration, and increasingly also as a uniquely New Zealand and Pacific festival that incorporates principles of sharing, remembering and giving as well as celebrating. This year Matariki will be celebrated from June 4. 

This year Te Taura Whiri has produced a booklet that celebrates Matariki.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) is an opportunity for all New Zealanders to celebrate te reo Māori. Te Taura Whiri, in partnership with the Human Rights Commission and Te Puni Kōkiri provides ideas and resources for schools, workplaces, councils, media and community organisations to undertake activities in support of this week.

Māori Language Week will be celebrated from.  This year’s theme is Manaakitangi and will be celebrated 4 July – 10July 2011. 

Māori Language Awards

The Māori Awards recognise the efforts of community organisations, schools, businesses, the media and government bodies to promote and use reo Māori during Māori Language Week.  The awards will take place on the evening of 18 Novemebr 2011 at  the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.

Korero Māori

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori has created the Korero Māori website in line with its strategy to make te reo a living national taonga. Korero Māori is an interactive website that includes conversation and language resources, and advice and support to improve learners’ grasp of te reo. The website includes Rōpū Reo Māori, a language club that matches learners with other learners of a similar level to keep in contact and practice their reo.

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