Latest news with #TereoMāori
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mark It On The Calendar. Toitū Te Reo Returns!
Toitū Te Reo – Aotearoa's national Māori language festival – is back for its second year, with a refined, refreshed two-day event full of heart, and happening in Heretaunga Hastings. The festival takes place in and around the Hastings CBD on 13 and 14 November 2025 and as plans begin to take shape, organisers are calling for aligned businesses, service providers, creatives and other entities to get involved. Festival director and founder Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod says this year's line-up will again include speakers, language workshops, musical performances, food and whānau-friendly events, bringing thousands to the city for celebration, connection, and cultural pride. 'Last year we had an estimated 10,000 people join us – whānau, tamariki, foodies, performers, creatives, reo champions and absolute beginners – all coming together to uplift te reo Māori,' says Jeremy. 'Toitū Te Reo is unapologetically Māori, yet it's incredibly accessible to non-speakers. We want young, old, locals, visitors, and those from every ethnicity to come along and have a go at te reo Māori.' Spearheaded by Te Matau a Māui-based cultural revitalisation agency Kauwaka, with support from the Matauranga Iwi Leaders' Group, sponsorship opportunities are now available, with something to suit every budget. While the inaugural festival received Government investment, 2025 is being delivered without it – a shift that has only strengthened the resolve of the organising team. 'It's a different climate,' says Jeremy. 'But we know how warmly the festival was welcomed in 2024 and we've doubled down on our commitment to progress 2025. Our indigenous language deserves centre stage and we're very grateful and humbled by those who believe in our kaupapa and share our commitment to Toitū Te Reo.' That support includes not just iwi and hapū, but a raft of businesses and volunteers who have already 'jumped in the waka' to deliver a packed schedule of kapa haka, symposiums, interactive workshops and wānanga, toi Māori, live podcasts, kai and more. Although the festival will inhabit a smaller footprint this year, it will again centre around the Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre. Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says her Council welcomes the festival's return. Te reo Māori is a taonga, she says, and the festival is instrumental in recognising and celebrating it as such. 'I was very proud when this world-first event was held in Heretaunga Hastings last year, and we saw how affirming and uplifting it was for all who attended. 'It created a real buzz in our city centre, showcasing our first people and our first language and honouring and celebrating our unique partnership here in Aotearoa – as captured and defined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.' Festival patrons Te Arikinui Kuini Ngawai Hono i te Po and Dr Sir Tīmoti Kāretu remain closely involved. 'Toitū Te Reo is a transformative bicultural opportunity for everyone,' concludes Jeremy. 'And it's even more important that we show up and show what we stand for in 2025, when the political discourse around te reo can be so toxic. 'We're extremely pleased at what we delivered in year one, excited about year two, and already dreaming up ways to make Toitū Te Reo an annual event for our region and our country.'
NZ Herald
01-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Wellington City Council confirms it spent millions on new parking system after Ombudsman probe
Wellington City Council has finally revealed how much it spent on installing a new pay-by-plate parking system, after the Ombudsman launched an investigation. The council switched to the new paperless system at the start of 2024 with new meters also offering the choice of English or Te reo Māori instructions.
NZ Herald
20-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Ngāti Kahungunu wants te reo road works signs reinstated
Ngāti Kahungunu chair Bayden Barber said the decision to not allow the taihoa/haere sign was not about 'rules', but about 'racism'. 'Te reo Māori is not a translation, a novelty or a risk. It is official. It is sacred. It is ours. It belongs on our roads just as it does in our wharenui, classrooms, homes and workplaces,' he said. Barber said he loved seeing the use of te reo in roading signage and said as the sign is only two words surrounded by green or red, most people would understand this as stop or go. 'This is a perfect opportunity to introduce te reo to the masses,' he said. Barber said Ngāti Kahungunu wanted the immediate reinstatement of bilingual signs in te reo Māori and English and a full rewrite of NZTA's rulebook so that 'this never happens again'. 'Te reo Māori is a language of this land. It must be seen, spoken, and protected – not paused, not questioned and not erased." A spokesman from NZTA said in response to Ngāti Kahungunu that it appreciates te reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand and will continue to use it in many parts of its work. But the spokesman said safety on the road was 'non–negotiable" and the use of approved signs was 'critical to ensuring all road users and traffic crews remain safe around work sites'. 'NZTA would welcome the opportunity to discuss the work with Mr Barber and he is welcome to get in contact with regional leaders.' The spokesperson said there were a small number of traffic signs in the Traffic Control Devices Rule conveying a message in te reo only (e.g. Marae, Kōhanga reo, Tangi), but most traffic signs were presented in English. 'The taihoa/haere signs are signalling critical messages for traffic (stop, go, slow) which could impact on safety,' the spokesperson said. 'Careful consideration and testing would be needed if replacing English with te reo Māori or adding te reo Māori to make a sign bilingual.' The Traffic Control Devices Rule is a transport regulation. It is the responsibility of the Minister of Transport and NZTA is not able to change it, NZTA said. It must adhere to the law and only use signs specified in the rule. The spokesman said the new Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024 had been finalised and bilingual/te reo Māori traffic signs are not identified as the Government's priority. A representative for the Minister of Transport directed Hawke's Bay Today 'squestions to NZTA.
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Ngāti Kahungunu Appalled By Pulling Of Te Reo Signage
Press Release – Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc Ngti Kahungunu demands the immediate reinstatement of bilingual signage and a full rewrite of Waka Kotahis rulebook so that this never happens again. Ngāti Kahungunu is appalled by the Minister of Transport and Waka Kotahi's decision to pull the use of Reo Māori traffic signs and stands unapologetically in defence of te reo Māori 'Taihoa' 'Haere' stop-go signs in Te Matau a Māui. Says Ngāti Kahungunu Chair, Bayden Barber, 'This is not about rules – it's about racism. Te reo Māori is not a translation, a novelty, or a risk. It is official. It is sacred. It is ours. It belongs on our roads just as it does in our wharenui, classrooms, homes, and workplaces.' He adds, 'I loved seeing the use of Te Reo in these contexts. It's only two words surrounded by green or red, which most people understand as go or stop. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce te reo to the masses.' Ngāti Kahungunu has been on a 25-year journey to reclaim and restore the use of te reo amongst its 100,000 people, 96 marae and over 150 hapū with the recent review of its language strategy, Kahungunu kia Eke. Last year the Toitū Te Reo Language Festival in Hastings attracted over 7000 people from all walks of life, Māori and non-Māori alike. Te reo Māori is thriving in parts of the community and Ngāti Kahungunu was to see te reo continue to flourish. Barber again comments, 'As part of our language strategy, Ngāti Kahungunu has worked closely with workplaces and organisations within our rohe to support our language aspirations. Hastings District Council has bilingual signage on all its main roadways. The iwi has a good relationship with Tūpore Infrastructure who have over 90% Māori workforce and commends the use of te reo on its stop-go signs.' Ngāti Kahungunu demands the immediate reinstatement of bilingual signage and a full rewrite of Waka Kotahi's rulebook so that this never happens again. In addition to this Ngāti Kahungunu is ready to meet with Waka Kotahi, the Minister of Transport, and TMNZ. But we do not come to negotiate our identity – we come with clear demands: restore the language, revise the rules, and acknowledge the damage done. Te reo Māori is a language of this land. It must be seen, spoken, and protected – not paused, not questioned and not erased.
Scoop
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Ngāti Kahungunu Appalled By Pulling Of Te Reo Signage
Press Release – Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc Ngti Kahungunu demands the immediate reinstatement of bilingual signage and a full rewrite of Waka Kotahis rulebook so that this never happens again. Ngāti Kahungunu is appalled by the Minister of Transport and Waka Kotahi's decision to pull the use of Reo Māori traffic signs and stands unapologetically in defence of te reo Māori 'Taihoa' 'Haere' stop-go signs in Te Matau a Māui. Says Ngāti Kahungunu Chair, Bayden Barber, 'This is not about rules – it's about racism. Te reo Māori is not a translation, a novelty, or a risk. It is official. It is sacred. It is ours. It belongs on our roads just as it does in our wharenui, classrooms, homes, and workplaces.' He adds, 'I loved seeing the use of Te Reo in these contexts. It's only two words surrounded by green or red, which most people understand as go or stop. This is a perfect opportunity to introduce te reo to the masses.' Ngāti Kahungunu has been on a 25-year journey to reclaim and restore the use of te reo amongst its 100,000 people, 96 marae and over 150 hapū with the recent review of its language strategy, Kahungunu kia Eke. Last year the Toitū Te Reo Language Festival in Hastings attracted over 7000 people from all walks of life, Māori and non-Māori alike. Te reo Māori is thriving in parts of the community and Ngāti Kahungunu was to see te reo continue to flourish. Barber again comments, 'As part of our language strategy, Ngāti Kahungunu has worked closely with workplaces and organisations within our rohe to support our language aspirations. Hastings District Council has bilingual signage on all its main roadways. The iwi has a good relationship with Tūpore Infrastructure who have over 90% Māori workforce and commends the use of te reo on its stop-go signs.' Ngāti Kahungunu demands the immediate reinstatement of bilingual signage and a full rewrite of Waka Kotahi's rulebook so that this never happens again. In addition to this Ngāti Kahungunu is ready to meet with Waka Kotahi, the Minister of Transport, and TMNZ. But we do not come to negotiate our identity – we come with clear demands: restore the language, revise the rules, and acknowledge the damage done. Te reo Māori is a language of this land. It must be seen, spoken, and protected – not paused, not questioned and not erased.
