Porirua City Council, Pātaka Art + Museum and Porirua Library are all marking 2018 Māori Language Week with a host of events celebrating Te Reo Māori. The week-long celebration, being held between 10 September and 16 September, is being driven by the theme of, Kia Kaha, well known in English as the Māori phrase for “be strong”.
We often talk about languages as if they are people, with their own strength and energy. So when we say Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori, we are saying “let‘s make the Māori language strong". The traditional hei tiki symbol has also been chosen as the symbol of this year’s language celebration, representing the link between the language of our Māori ancestors and the modern day.
This year’s language focus will have special significance on September 14, Māori Language Day, when there will be a formal commemoration of the presentation to parliament in 1972 of the petition on the Māori language.
Our celebration of Māori will also be seen through billboards, banners and posters of well-known phrases, going up around Porirua.
We have a calendar of events taking place throughout the week across Porirua to celebrate our shared connection to Te Reo Māori:
You can also find out more about the week-long celebration of the Te Reo Māori language by visiting the official Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori website.
