Porirua will come alive next week with a range of events to celebrate 50 years of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, honouring the growth of the Māori language movement in Aotearoa.
Held from 14 to 20 September, Māori Language Week is an annual nationwide celebration encouraging all New Zealanders to support te reo Māori, one of the country’s official languages. This year marks a special milestone, the 50th anniversary since the first Māori Language Day in 1972, which later expanded into a full week in 1975.
Porirua City Council’s General Manager Community & Partnerships, Reuben Friend, says this year’s theme highlights te reo as a “forever language” and calls on the community to continue embracing and normalising its use.
“Porirua City Council supports this year’s theme of 50 years of celebrating Māori Language Week, and of Māori being a forever language,” Friend said.
“It is already well-integrated into our society and phrases and expressions have become the norm for many of us, but it is important that this becomes even more ingrained. It’s 38 years since te reo Māori became an official language in Aotearoa, so it’s up to everyone to be kaitiaki of the language and make it stronger than ever.”
Ngāti Toa Rangatira, mana whenua of Porirua, will support a wide range of community events throughout the week. Planned activities include a flag-raising ceremony at Pātaka, a market at Kai Tahi, bilingual kindy gym sessions, and a series of arts-focused events at Pātaka Art + Museum.
Events:
Te wiki o te reo Mākete
Time: 11am–4pm, Sunday 14 September
Address: Kai Tahi, 20 Parumoana Street, Porirua
Over 40 stalls, live entertainment, paint by numbers activity, and amazing food in the food court.
Badge making at Pātaka
Time: All day, Sunday 14 September
Address: Pātaka Art + Museum, Corner Norrie & Parumoana streets, Porirua
Visit Pātaka reception to make your very own badge, celebrating Te Reo Māori
Flag-raising ceremony
Time: 9–10am, Monday 15 September
Address: Pātaka performing arts studio, Porirua
Heritage signs opening
Time: 10.30am–11am, Monday 15 September
Address: Porirua harbourside
Reo rua kindy gym
Time: 9.30–10.30am, Wednesday 17 September
Address: Te Rauparaha Arena
‘Tangihanga’ presented by Wahanui Productions
Time: 1pm & 6pm, Wednesday 17 September
Address: Pātaka Art + Museum, Corner Norrie & Parumoana streets, Porirua
‘Tangihanga’ presented by Wahanui Productions: A One-Woman Journey through Grief, Laughter and Whānau. Concession: $10, Adult: $15. Suitable for 11yrs+
Story World: Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori
Time: 10.30–11am, Wednesday 17 September
Address: City Centre Library
Live music and waiata by Nga Toi
Time: 11am–12pm, Saturday 20 September
Address: Pātaka Art + Museum, Corner Norrie & Parumoana streets, Porirua
Te Tepu Tākaro
Time: All week
Address: Pātaka Art + Museum, Corner Norrie & Parumoana streets, Porirua
Have fun learning Te Reo Māori while playing classic games including Go Fish and dominoes. Give the super popular Tākaro! memory game a try too!
Artist in Focus display by Vivita Toa
Time: All week
Address: Pātaka Art + Museum, Corner Norrie & Parumoana streets, Porirua
Vivita Toa is a creative tech hub with a bold mission – to empower all rangatahi. Set in the heart of Porirua City, and developed in partnership with Ngāti Toa.
Rauemi Reo Māori book display
Time: All week
Address: City Centre Library