MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 13 March 2019
EMBARGOED until 12 noon, Thursday 14 March 2019
Māori language sports virtual reality game released
Puni Reo Pāhekoheko is a Māori language sports virtual reality game aimed at encouraging the use of te reo Māori in
sports.
“This innovative tool is designed to activate the use of te reo Māori in sports using virtual reality:” says Marty
Rogers, Te Puni Kōkiri Regional Manager Tāmaki Makaurau.
“We worked with myReo Studios to develop an interactive digital resource that would make using te reo Māori in sports
fun and relevant.”
Designer Kawana Wallace of myReo Studios says “I’m very proud of Puni Reo Pāhekoheko. It uses virtual reality technology
and I believe is the first Māori sports VR game developed.”
Pāhekoheko means to join/interact and is the latest Puni Reo digital resource produced to encourage and activate te reo
Māori in sports. Earlier resources include Puni Reo Ki-O-Rahi, Puni Reo Poitarawhiti (netball), and Puni Reo Poi Pātū
(squash).
Eruera Lee-Morgan, Senior Advisor of Te Puni Kōkiri has been working with myReo Studios for approximately 18 months to
develop the concept of Māori language movement ‘Puni Reo’ - mobilising communities, whānau and rangatahi.
“All of the Puni Reo digital resources are aimed at encouraging the use of te reo Māori language in sports,” says Eruera
Lee-Morgan. “We encourage everyone to use the Puni Reo digital resources. Pāhekoheko is a fun and interactive way to use
te reo Māori.
“We have a Te Puni Kōkiri Auckland Māori Language Plan that sits under our wider Te Puni Kōkiri Māori Language Strategy.
These digital resources also support the outcomes of the Government’s Maihi Karauna Māori Language Strategy which is te
reo being spoken everywhere, everyway, everyone, every day.
Puni Reo Pāhekoheko will be launched at ASB Polyfest this week. It is the largest rangatahi Māori festival in the world
and has an expected audience of more than 100,000. Te Puni Kōkiri staff will be at the ASB Polyfest demonstrating Puni
Reo Pāhekoheko. It is available for download from the App Store.
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