Te Mātāwai

Te Reo Māori Turi 👋🏽🤲🏽🫶🏽

The final episode of our Takahia tō Ara series brings us to a special kaupapa celebrating Te Reo Māori Turi.

Across the eight episodes, we've journeyed throughout Aotearoa to share stories from the eight Kāhui and Kāhui ā-iwi of Te Mātāwai that show there is no single path to learning te reo Māori. Every whānau, hapori and iwi brings their own unique approach to the journey.

We're proud to conclude the series with this kaupapa, recognising that for many Turi Māori, access to language, culture and learning spaces is not always easy, making these pathways even more important.

Hei ākuanei p**a ai tēnei kiriata poto.

📸 Nā James Rua ngā whakaahua

He aha ngā kaupapa ka tū ki tō tāone mō Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026? 🗺️📍

The new interactive map is now live, helping you find kaupapa near you and add your own to the nationwide celebration.

Mai i ngā kura me ngā wāhi mahi, tae atu ki ngā karapu hākinakina me ngā pakihi, e karangahia ana ngā hapori katoa kia whai wāhi mai!

Download a customised Tāone Reo Māori logo for your town, attend an event in your area, or join us online for our Te Wiki lunchtime webinar.

🔗 Kei te paetukutuku ngā kōrero katoa me ngā huarahi e whai wāhi ai koe: https://tematawai.maori.nz/mi/media/news/aotearoa-shifts-another-gear-te-wiki-o-te-reo-maori-2026-0

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HAI REO TUKU IHO - Online beginner te reo classes for whānau Kāi Tahu.
Hai Reo Tuku Iho is an 8-week, online, beginner level te reo Māori course for Kāi Tahu parents and caregivers wanting to begin their reo journey and commit to using te reo Māori in the home. The course is focused on getting you started with easy, ready to use reo Māori for your kāika.
The classes will be hosted every Tuesday across the 8 weeks.
Start Date: Tuesday 8 September 2026.
Register your interest here
https://www.kmk.maori.nz/events

*Note – Spaces are limited to ensure the quality of delivery of the programme. Priority will be given to whānau with young tamariki.

Te reo Māori advocates say the recognition of 'kaitiakitanga' as the world's most beautiful word should send a clear message that te reo Māori is valued beyond the borders of Aotearoa.

Is te reo Māori globally hot but locally not? The recognition of "kaitiakitanga" as the world's most beautiful word has sparked renewed calls to better value te reo Māori at home.

Our co-chair Mātai Smith shared his whakaaro to RNZ about 'Kaitiakitanga' being named the world's most beautiful word by language learning platform Babbel.

"It's more than recognition of a single kupu, it's the recognition of the beauty, the richness and the mana of our reo. Our reo has always carried generations of knowledge, values and identity, but it's really quite heartening when you see those qualities recognised on the world stage," Mātai said on RNZ's news bulletin.

Māori word 'kaitiakitanga' named world's most beautiful by language app A Māori word describing the responsibility to care for the natural world has been named the world's most beautiful word by language-learning platform Babbel.

E koa ana a Te Mātāwai ki te whakapuaki i te kopounga o Kerensa Johnston, rātou ko Verona-Meiana Putaranui, ko Dr Julian Wilcox ki Te Rūnanga Kaiwhakatere o Whakaata Maori 🧡🌀🔥

🔗 Read more about the amazing new Whakaata Māori Board appointees here: https://tematawai.maori.nz/media/news/te-matawai-appoints-three-new-members-to-whakaata-maori-board

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Te Mātāwai have opened the Te Reo Towns Activation Fund, offering grants of up to $3,000 to support launch-day public events on Monday 14 September 2026.

The fund is designed to help communities create visible celebrations of te reo Māori in public spaces and get planning underway early. Funding is limited and groups are encouraged to apply quickly.

You have until 31 July 2026 to apply - that's 23 days from now!

Applications are welcomed from councils, iwi, schools, trusts and community organisations, with preference given to collaborations between councils and community groups.

Proposals will be assessed against criteria including community impact, geographic spread, public visibility, strong planning and alignment with the Te Reo Towns kaupapa and normalisation of te reo Māori.

🔗 Learn more and apply via link in comments.

Ka pēhea te āhua o tō Tāone Reo Māori hei te Hepetema e tū mai nei? 🏡

Following the announcement that Te Reo Towns will be the focus for this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Te Mātāwai invite hapori across Aotearoa to take the next step!

💥 A community fund is now open and daily themes are unveiled to inspire participation throughout Te Wiki.

🔗 Kei te paehono te whānui o ngā kōrero.

Funding to bring Te Reo Towns to life – and daily Te Wiki themes revealed | Te Mātāwai Following the announcement that Te Reo Towns will be the focus for this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, communities across Aotearoa are now invited to take the next step. A community fund is now open and daily themes are unveiled to inspire participation throughout Te Wiki.