RNZ staff share their tips and words of encouragement for anyone starting their te reo Māori journey, plus their favourite whakataukī and tips for parents who want to use more te reo around the home.
Whakataukī and kīwaha Photo: RNZ
Tips or words of encouragement for people starting out, or thinking about beginning, to learn te reo Māori.
Advice Dr Jim Mather received from a mentor, for learning te reo Māori Photo: RNZ
Māni Dunlop, RNZ Māori news director and host of Te Pūrongo o te Poutūtanga (Midday Report), Ngāpuhi:
Mahia te mahi - do the work.
Trust and remember your why - mine is our babies - hearing reo roll out of their mouths encourages me to continually upskill and commit to the revitalisation of our reo Rangatira.
Every day I am reminded of my Tīpuna who had the reo literally beaten out of them - I am reminded that the right they fought for us to have reo is not a privilege but a gift and a fight we unfortunately continue to battle - although that battle is becoming easier by the day with the way in which those in Aotearoa are finally realising the ease in which it is to be recognised, normalised and used in all facets of society.
Embrace everyone's efforts and everyone's level - never takahi on people sincerely learning and trying.
Justine Murray, producer and presenter of Te Ahi Kaa, Ngai te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui:
Work on pronunciation is a good first step - maybe start with our place names.
There are lots of books to help you - so try and read a paragraph or a page a day to get an idea of grammar.
Find someone in your whānau, a close friend who you feel comfortable speaking te reo Māori with.
Even be brave and ask questions like - is this correct or what's another word for this? The more receptive you are to learning, you welcome in other people's knowledge about te reo Māori.
Watch and listen to all the channels, programmes, podcasts you can!
RNZ chairman Dr Jim Mather, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe and English:
An esteemed elder, whom I also consider a mentor, once shared his 3 's' of learning and speaking te reo Māori, which were: 'firstly focus on simplicity and sincerity, then over time substance'.
Brendon Murphy, Ko kaiwhakahaere hangarau ahau, technology manager, Ngāti Pākehā:
Best piece of advice I have received was from Scotty Morrison - start by learning what is relevant. If you don't need to talk about whales, don't learn the kupu associated with whales, you want to learn what you will use at the start.
Find a reo buddy or a couple, people you can bounce things off and try stuff out with, best of all they are at the same stage as you so no need to be embarrassed.
Lastly one of the things I struggle with and still do is the speed at which people talk. Especially when you are a beginner speaker and trying to translate in your head. One of the things I did to help that was watch a lot of Te Reo Channel, I don't understand much but it's a conversational speed and I get better at picking out the kupu I know.
Watch Mark Bullen (Te Rarawa), RNZ chief technology and operations officer, talk through his tips for beginner and intermediate te reo Māori speakers, as well as some kīwaha and everyday kupu to use around the house:
Favourite Māori phrases, sayings or proverbs
Justine Murray: Iti Rearea teitei kahikatea, ka taea. Even the smallest Rearea bird can ascend the top of the kahikatea tree. With hard work you can achieve the goal - no matter who you are.
Māni Dunlop shares a favourite whakatauākī. Nā Wharehuia Milroy. Photo: RNZ
Māni Dunlop: "Whakahokia mai te reo i te mata o te pene, ki te mata o te arero." Don't allow the language to remain upon the pages of the book but return it to the mouths of the people. Nā Wharehuia Milroy, from the master himself - who dedicated his life to the recognition and revitalisation of te reo rangatira.
Dr Jim Mather: This has to be one of the most beautiful whakataukī used to wish someone well in an upcoming endeavour or journey:
Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te kārohirohi i mua i tō huarahi. May peace be widespread, may the sea glisten like greenstone, and may the shimmer of light guide you on your way.
Brendon Murphy: My all-time fave is karawhiua. Go hard. Other notable ones:
- Kia pai mai hoki (mostly because I like saying that one)
- Mauri mahi, mauri ora - Do the work, get the treats
Whakataukī:
- Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - My success is not my own, but from many others.
- He manako te kōura e kore ai - The wish for fish will bring none.
Tips for parents to incorporate/use te reo Māori around the home with your kids
Producer and presenter of Te Ahi Kaa, Justine Murray, shares her tip for parents Photo: RNZ
Dr Jim Mather: Be consistent, learn new phrases together and encourage each other with the simple reminder: 'kōrero Māori'.
Justine Murray: Me kōrero Māori i nga wa katoa, i nga waahi katoa. Speak Māori in and outside of the home.
Brendon Murphy: Given we are not a reo Māori speaking household we try and incorporate it a heaps of small ways for example when we got fish, there were six of them they were named tahi - ono.
Songs and games are a really good way to make the kupu sticky, we play a lot of tākaro.
Māni Dunlop: Don't feel ashamed when your own kids correct you - see it as a badge of honour! Haha.
Watch this video to help you with te reo Māori pronunciation: