Iwi aims to inspire the inspirers

Wednesday, 21 June 2017, 1:22 pm
Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu

Media Release – 21 June 2017

“Iwi aims to inspire the inspirers”

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc. is thrilled to host the second language revitalization symposium, named ‘Te reo ki tua!’, a new initiative that has been developed to further enhance the Ngāti Kahungunu Māori Language Strategy which strives for te reo Māori to be successfully revitalized by 2027. This initiative showcases some of the tribe's and nation’s most prolific language exponents who have worked tirelessly over decades to successfully revive the language within Aotearoa which was all but nearly decimated during the early 1900s. This symposium enlists an array of well-known personalities who are all second language learners, having made successful careers within the field.

The ultimate goal from this symposium is to raise awareness around the dire state of our dying language, and to inspire second language learners who will in turn inspire others to learn and save the language. The array of speakers covers all facets of the world of language revitalization, from kapa haka, to marae, to media, to the arts, to teaching, to bi-lingualism within communities, to raising children in a bi-lingual environment, to astronomy. This symposium is for anyone who is interested in hearing innovative ways of learning te reo, mastering te reo, promoting te reo, revitalizing te reo and maintaining the zest required to raise native Māori speaking children. The symposium aims at inspiring the key language movers and shakers within the expanse of the Ngāti Kahungunu tribal region. The symposium will be bi-lingual to ensure that the message is received by all attendees.

Ngāti Kahungunu suffered major language losses at the hand of colonization and still witnesses a depleting pool of native speakers of the language. “Our tribe must act urgently to safeguard and protect the language” says Iwi Director of Te Reo and Tikanga Jeremy Tātere MacLeod, “And this two day symposium serves to increase awareness, to encourage second language learners, to strengthen key language champions and to give families the tools for making their homes bi-lingual. People are our greatest resource”. This two day symposium will attract up to 500 keen language enthusiasts from around the nation, especially those who are keen to learn and share innovative methods of saving endangered languages. Iwi leaders anticipate that this will generate a huge amount of interest from the language community within New Zealand and extend a warm invitation to anyone keen to attend.

The symposium will be held at Clubs Hastings on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 August 2017.

Please visit http://www.kahungunu.iwi.nz/te-reo-symposium for a full programme and list of speakers.

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