Shortie Street's Nelson to promote te reo at Wellington event

You wouldn't know it from watching Shortland Street but Quinton Hita (AKA Nelson) on Shortland Street is a fluent Mäori language speaker and Mäori Language Commissioner.

"I had to laugh because I'm the most fluent speaker on the set and I don't have a chance to use it," says Quinton.

He'll be at Te Rä o te Raukura an annual event held at Te Whiti Park, Lower Hutt on the 9th of February to promote te reo and the work of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Mäori - The Mäori Language Commission particularly to Mäori youth.

The main act at the event will be the Auckland band Katchafire. The day will begin with kapa haka and other Mäori bands. Te Taura Whiri will have an information stall at the event where they will promote the services they provide. There will also be a te reo prize pack up for grabs.

Since he was appointed to the board he has been a strong advocate for doing things in a way that's going to grab the attention of rangatahi Mäori and turn them on to te reo rather then off it.

"I copped some flack from language stalwarts at the beginning for my views and methods but if that helped more Mäori kids get into te reo, then it was worth it."

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