Technology key to revitalising language and culture
Technology is key to the revitalisation of indigenous language and culture according to Kiwa Digital, winners of the
Digital and Information Communication Technology Award at last night’s Ngā Tohu Māori awards.
Māori language advocates across the country gathered last night at Napier’s Pettigrew Green Arena to celebrate the 10th
Māori language awards.
The awards started in 2004 and are about celebrating excellence and long-term commitment to te reo Māori from across
Aotearoa New Zealand. They support the vision of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) “to hear
and see our indigenous language resonate across this nation’s landscape.”
“2015 has been an incredible year for us in supporting language regeneration both in Aotearoa New Zealand and
internationally,” said Steven Renata, Global Business Development Director of KIWA.
Recent projects include the bilingual graphic novellas Ngā Atua Māori; a bilingual app promoting use of re Reo for
Auckland Transport; a collection of creation stories for Victorian Aboriginal Corporation of Languages; cultural apps
for Callaghan Innovation, IMSB and Auckland Council; an educational app for Waikato-Tainui; and a series of projects for
Ngāi Tahu, also award winners last night.
“Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and those recognised at the awards are putting huge effort into supporting language
regeneration and innovation” said Renata. “This is paying off and we are now at a “tipping point”, with technology key
to success.”
About
Ngā Tohu Reo Māori is an annual Māori language awards event hosted by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, held to celebrate
excellence and long term commitment to te reo Māori from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Kiwa Digital is a media production company based in Auckland. We bring content to new life across languages and
cultures, working across the media industry in digital publishing, education technology and the postproduction stage of
television and film production.
ENDS