Sweating the Small Stuff - Māori Language Week 11-15 Sept

Te Reo – sweating the small stuff (Māori language Week 11 Sept)

This Te Wiki o te Reo Māori / Māori Language Week, Ara is combining sports and Māori language to bring Te Reo out of the classroom and out of official ceremonies and into everyday settings like… the gym.

Between 11 – 15 September, students can experience Te Reo in unconventional settings, with introductory language sessions happening in the context of a fitness circuit session, a community quiz with University of Canterbury, a movie night, performing arts workshops and a game of touch rugby. Events are happening at the Christchurch City, Timaru and Woolston campuses.

“We will be learning language while getting a sweat on,” Ara Manager of Te Puna Wanaka Heperi Harris says. “You don’t need any background to participate – either in Māori language or in sports!”

The focus this national Māori Language Week is ‘kia ora te reo” bringing life and vitality to the language in different contexts. “A lot of people will have only heard Māori at the big pōwhiri events, at the ceremonies, so we want to bring it into an everyday setting for them to normalise the language and maybe plant that seed that Te Reo is accessible and achievable for everyone.”

Te Puna Wānaka offers a range of Māori and Pasifika language and cultural programmes from short courses to Bachelor of Language degrees. The institute’s proud tradition of Māori and Pasifika engagement includes a formal relationship with local iwi Ngāi Tahu and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

Key words for physical activity

Omaoma/ Run

Tū/ Stand, stop

Tū hītengitengi/ Standing squat

Whātoro Waewae/ lunge

Pana tū/ Burpee

Pana ake / Push-up

Greetings

Informal

Kia ora – Hello/To wish good health Mōrena – Good morning

Formal

Tēnā koe – Greeting (One person) Tēnā kōrua – Greetings (Two people)

Tēnā koutou – Greetings (3 or more people)Inquiring Question

Kei te pēhea koe? / How are you?

Responses

Kei te pai ahau / I’m good

Ka nui te ora / I’m great

Kua pau te hau/ I’m exhasted

Me koe? / And you?

Farewells

Haere rā / Goodbye (to someone leaving)

E noho rā / Goodbye (to someone staying)

Ka kite anō / See you again

Hei konā / See you later

Colloquial idioms (kīwaha)

Karawhiua mai! / Bring it on!

E kī, e kī! / you don’t say! Is that right!

Me he tē! / Like a Boss!

ENDS

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