Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland lights up for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori

Streets, squares, and the pages of a giant book have been transformed into a large-scale canvas for te reo Māori kupu (words) in Tāmaki Makaurau's city centre for the next seven days.

This is part of the celebrations for Māori Language Week, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori, across Aotearoa.

A neon sign in Tāmaki Makaurau, left. Flag-raising ceremonies will be held across the motu to mark Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori/Māori Language Week. Photos/Our Auckland - Tō Tātou Tāmaki Maurau and Poriruacity

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is an annual celebration for all New Zealanders to show their support for the Māori language, an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand.

This year it will be held from 14-21 o Hepetema (September). The theme is ‘Ake ake ake - A forever language’, representing the resilience, adaptability, and endurance of the language.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori also reflects the commitment Kiwis have to embracing and learning te reo Māori into the future.

Watch Waimahara below. It is an interactive artwork by Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Manu) and a creative team deepening our connection to place. It describes the memory of water, specifically Te Waihorotiu, the stream flowing beneath the Myers Park underpass to Waitematā Harbour.

Events planned across the motu include a flag-raising ceremony in Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington, the sale of Akeake seedlings, weaving putiputi (flower), stories at the library, music, and crafts market - all sharing the rich culture of Porirua's Māori heritage.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says te reo Māori is important to the city not just during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, but always.

"We’re proud of Porirua’s culture and our close relationship with mana whenua Ngāti Toa," Baker said in a statement.

"Languages only thrive when we speak and embrace them, so even if you’re not a confident te reo speaker I urge you to give it a go this week.

"Tēnā honoa kia mātou ki te whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - please join us to celebrate Māori Language Week."

The Giant book: ‘How Māui Slowed the Sun’ is on display at Central City Library until 30 September. It will take two or even three children to turn the pages. Photo/Our Auckland - Tō Tātou Tāmaki Makaurau

In Ōtautahi Christchurch, there is Iti te kupu, nui te kōrero - join the Christchurch City Libraries at Riverside on Tuesday 17 September, and "dive into the wharewhare", competitive world of Bingo.

There's fun and competitiveness of the card game Euchre on Saturday 14 and 21 September at Linwood Library during Mai Ihutai ki Ūka. Or celebrate the wiki with a surprise movie on 14 September at Tūranga’s Auaha Hīhī/Spark Place.

There is also Ngā Pakiwaitara/Bilingual Storytimes fun, waiata (songs), and laughter on Tuesday at Tūranga’s Wāhi Whānau/Family Place. Grab a coffee and come along for some Māori language-themed games and a chat at Kawhe Reo in Tūranga’s Foundation Café on Monday 16 September.

Learn to make your own poi or tītī tōrea and help hunt for the top designers and design your own whare during the colouring competition Tuhia Mai tō whare. View the full list of events at Christchurch City Libraries website.

Photo/Christchurch City Council

In Auckland, co-curator of the city centre canvas Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) says residents are fortunate to have the opportunity to engage with, to see, and to hear te reo Māori across the heart of the city centre.

“With activations of light, words, and a giant book celebrating and highlighting te reo Māori, we are honouring the call made in September 1972 for the recognition and revitalisation of te reo Māori," Papa said.

"Many initiatives combine to encourage people around Aotearoa to speak more reo Māori in a way that is comfortable for them, be it an hour a day, two hours a day, one day a week, or immersion for the entire month of Mahuru - early September to early October by the Maramataka Māori.

Auckland Council city centre place activation principal Barbara Holloway has compiled a programme of interactive ways Aucklanders can embrace te reo Māori in public places.

“Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori are special times to celebrate Māori language," Holloway says.

"This extensive and joyous programme created with the Central City Library team offers numerous ways to learn and enjoy through movies, making, listening, learning, singing and playing,” she says.

View the full list of events at https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/

There will be Ngā Pakiwaitara, bilingual stories, at the Christchurch City Library. Photo/CCL