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Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, also known as Māori Language Week, is part of a larger effort to breathe new life into the Māori language throughout Aotearoa. Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori aims to inspire New Zealanders to speak the Maori language proudly and experience the rich tapestry of our culture, one sentence at a time.
Like all of Aotearoa, Newmarket is rich in Māori history. Te Ti Tūtahi (Newmarket), means ‘Sacred Cabbage Tree Standing Alone’. The Sacred Cabbage tree was a well-known landmark for those travelling between the Waitematā and Manukau harbours and beyond. The tree originally stood at the corner of Mortimer Pass and Broadway, however, was sadly cut down in 1908 as it was thought to be a danger to children attending the local school. Luckily enough, parts of the Te Ti Tūtahi still live on as some shoots from the tree were able to be saved and were used to populate the trees on Lumsden Green many years later. They were also included as part of the Teed Street upgrade in 2017.
The theme for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of the Māori language and the commitment New Zealanders have to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future. This week serves as a great reminder to incorporate Māori language into our everyday lives.
Newmarket proudly celebrates the Māori language and heritage this week and every week and here are some ways you can celebrate too!
Learning a new language can be challenging but every small step makes a difference! Try using some common Māori words with your whānau this week, we've popped some below to make things easier!
| Kia Ora - Hello/ thank you | E.g. "Kia Ora, my name's Rachel" |
| Ka kite anō – See you again | E.g. "Ka kite anō, take care." |
| Kei te pēhea koe? – How are you? | E.g. "Kei te pēhea koe today?" |
| Mahi – Work | E.g. "Back to mahi after the weekend." |
| Kai – Food | E.g. "Let's go get some kai." |
| Ka pai - Good job | E.g. "Ka pai on your presentation!" |
For little ones who enjoy bedtime stories, choosing a book in te reo Māori is a wonderful idea. You can read them a translated version of a familiar classic or introduce them to a whole new world – either way, they're bound to love it.
If the history of Te Ti Tūtahi interests you then you’ll want to head to the corner of Mortimer Pass and Broadway, where the original tree stood, and check out our Te Ti Tūtahi heritage sign. The sign tells the story of our sacred Cabbage Tree and explores the rich Māori culture that populated our beautiful precinct.
For more ways to celebrate and be a part of Te Wiki o Te Reo, click here.
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