Small treasures of language

22nd July 2008

by Greg Taipari greg.taipari@dailypost.co.nz

There's a proverb which sums up what Maori Language Week means to Rotorua teacher July McLean.

Ahakoa iti , he pounamu, (although it is small, it is of greenstone).

The Whakarewarewa Primary School whaea (teacher) says the proverb means that no matter how small something is, it's still valuable. That's how she sees Maori Language Week.

"It can be only a small word but if [Maori] is used it keeps the language alive, which is important."

She teaches Room 9 at Whakarewarewa Primary. It's a "total immersion" class in which children are taught entirely in Maori.

Miss McLean considers she has a class full of little pounamu (treasures), children like 9-year-old Olena Smyth who is proud to be Maori and enjoys speaking it with her friends.

This year's theme is "Te Reo i te kainga - Maori language in the home".

Olena said she tried to use te reo when she was at home. "My mum can speak Maori but not my dad." This week her class will celebrate Maori language by creating whakatauki on what te reo (the language) means to them.

"I'm proud that I get to experience [Maori language]. It's what makes New Zealand special. We have two official languages."

Olena's class mate Takerei Wilson said along with whakatauki their class would be learning waiata (song) and at the end of the week would celebrate with a hakari (feast).

"It's great that we get to use [Maori] in class and on the playground. I try to use it as much as I can when I get home."

Keanu Ahipene speaks Maori at home all the time. His mother is learning how to speak Maori from watching the TV programme Whanau, that screens on week days on TV1. "She's getting there." he said. "We always try and ask for stuff in Maori."

Maori Language week has been celebrated in New Zealand for more than 30 years. It's an opportunity for New Zealanders to speak it, or to show support to speakers of te reo Maori.