'Tourism On the road with te reo Maori'

Media statement

For immediate release, Thursday 19 April 2007

'Tourism On the road with te reo Maori'

'He Korero mo Aotearoa On the road with reo Maori' is the catchphrase for this year's Maori Language Week to be held last week of (23-29) July '07.

Tourism Tapoi, is this year's theme aimed at inspiring the tourism sector and keen Kiwi organisations to get 'On the road with te reo Maori'.

A new Maori Language Week Tourism Award was unveiled today at a special launch to get keen kiwi organisations and tourism industry partners to start planning their own Māori language week activities for the last week of July.

A major focus this year will be to encourage the use of the greeting 'Kia ora', says Maori Language Commissioner Erima Henare.

"Alongside Tourism New Zealand we are promoting this as the year of 'Kia ora' and are encouraging everyone to use simple greetings and phrases as an important component of conveying our unique national identity," he says.

"Tourism New Zealand has also sponsored a new Tourism Award to recognise the innovative efforts we expect tourism organisations will undertake,' says Erima.

Maori Language Week promotion is led by the Maori Language Commission with support this year from Tourism New Zealand, the New Zealand Maori Tourism Council, the Human Rights Commission and Te Puni Kokiri. Planning for this year's week is well underway and people are encouraged to visit www.nzreo.org.nz for suggestions, ideas, resources and award entry information.

There are 14 categories in the Maori Language Week Awards up for grabs and schools, communities, businesses, government agencies, health organisations and libraries are encouraged to have a go at speaking Maori and getting involved in Maori Language Week to be in to win.

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