This year's Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori was made even more significant with the 50th anniversary of the Māori Language Petition. It was wonderful to hear from our women's networks in Tāmaki Makaurau who shared all about their week of learning and fun. We're already inspired for next year!
Te Mana Ārai o Aotearoa Customs
A Teams session introducing the Customs Whanau to the beautiful Taonga Puoro (singing treasures) of the Te Ao Maori
All staff Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori Kahoots Quiz and Bingo Card Game to encourage Customs staff to become more familiar with te reo
Competitions running in Auckland and Wellington for people to order their drinks in Te Reo from our cafes in the Customhouses
Story wall regarding the history of Maori Language
Officers sharing a kōrero about their te reo journey
Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland Council
Supplied cards for everyday words and their te reo translation provided to all teams to use
Encouraged to use greetings in person and on emails
The café put out phrases to help staff order coffee in te reo and you got a free cookie!
Our officers have attended the AUT Conversational Māori courses
Unit/team and position names were translated to use on our signature blocks
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Tātaki participated in the Auckland Council group-wide kapa haka event, Voices of the Moana. Other participants included Eke Panuku, Auckland Museum and this year’s event organisers, Watercare with Eke Panuku taking the overall win
We supported Mahuru Māori by encouraging our kaimahi to speak Māori for the duration of Mahuru.
Various business units within Tātaki also held unique activities such as Auckland Live which created and promoted a cool video of kaimahi in commemorating 50 years since Te Petihana Reo Māori was presented to Parliament in 1972
Launched our Māori cultural app named Taki. The app was tailor-made for the Tātaki working environment however is designed to benefit anyone who interacts with Māori or who simply wants to begin and build their cultural and te reo Māori journey. It's also free and available for anyone to download!
We ran a quiz competition promoting the use of the Tāki App and prizes included one-on-one lessons with local Māori consultancy and capability provider, Manawataki Ltd
Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission
During te wiki o te reo Māori at Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission, a different functional team opened each day with a karakia and a short presentation or activity incorporating te reo and te ao Māori. Sessions included waiata, whakataukī, games, role play and presentations. Being a small organisation (39 people) meant everyone had an opportunity to share and participate and it was a beautiful, grounded way to start each workday.
Kaihautū – Director of Māori Development Erin Thompson-Pou taught the team about Te Petihana Reo Māori and led a discussion on te reo and what it means to us.
The Tāmaki Makaurau and Pōneke offices also shared a delicious hangi, engaging with Te Petihana Reo Māori 50 years commemoration online.