Māori Language Revitalisation Goes Mainstream

15 November 2016

MĀORI LANGUAGE REVITALISATION GOES MAINSTREAM

The revitalisation of te Reo Māori has reached an exciting new phase, with technology enabling scale and reach beyond what’s been dreamed of in the past , says Steven Renata CEO of Kiwa Digital Ltd.

Renata was echoing the words of Māori Language Commission Chair Dr Wayne Ngata at Ngā Tohu Reo Māori last Friday, where Dr Ngata declared “2016 will be seen as a pivotal year in which revitalisation stopped being a dream, and became a plan.”

“Language champions honoured at the awards shared a commitment to engage with their workforce and communities on a large scale, with many including a digital solution as part of their well-planned te reo journey’” says Renata.

“Leading the way is Ararau Rangi Air New Zealand, Supreme Award Winner, whose decade long programme of integrating te reo Māori and Māori values into workplaces and customer interactions now includes their own cultural and language app Te Kete Tikanga Māori .”

Kiwa Digital sees itself as playing a major role in this mahi, through its cultural intelligence tool that is putting Te Ao Māori on to the phones and tablets of workforces throughout New Zealand.

As well as Air New Zealand, the company works with Callaghan Innovation, and (in development) Auckland Council, Worksafe NZ, Department of Conservation, Meridian Energy and a number of local authorities.

“Nau mai ki te ao matihiko | Welcome to the digital arena - it's a saying you will hear a lot more of” says Renata.

ABOUT

Kiwa Digital Ltd

KIWA is a game changing digital innovator working across the media industry in digital publishing, education technology and postproduction fields. Founded in 2003 to facilitate dubbing of children’s television programs for Māori, the company has grown and developed this expertise, and applied its innovative approach to make language an integral part of its products and services.It offers a range of services that contribute to increased use of indigenous languages in new digital spaces. The company was awarded Te Toa Reo Māori Rorohiko/ Auaha Digital Champion - at the Māori Language Awards 2016, for the second year. See www.kiwadigital.com.

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