Southern DHB get behind Māori Language Week

Southern DHB Tautoko Te Wiki o Te Reo (Southern DHB get behind Māori Language Week)

Southern DHB is getting behind Māori Language week -Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori (27 July to 2 August) again this year, with a host of celebrations and events planned to help staff improve their understanding and enjoyment of Māori language and culture.

Every year since 1975 New Zealand has marked Māori Language Week. This is a time for all New Zealanders to celebrate Te Reo Māori (the Māori language) and to use more Māori phrases in everyday life.

The theme this year is 'Whāngaihia te reo Māori ki ngā mātua': helping parents to pass Te Reo on to their children. This is part of the underlying theme of Māori Language Week, ‘Arohatia te Reo – cherish the language’.

At Southern District Health Board hospital switchboards, staff are answering phones in Te Reo Māori, a tradition which is being repeated from the last couple of years and has proved popular.

Waiata practices are planned to give staff an opportunity to bond and learn some of the hospitals’ formal waiata. There will also be special educational and interactive sessions held to help staff enjoy engaging with Te Reo Māori.

To help promote this year’s Māori language week information is posted on the TV screens as well as on displays in the foyers at Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals.

Dean Whaanga from the Murihiku Iwi environmental organisation, Te Ao Marama, will be presenting via video conferencing from Southland Hospital, Invercargill to Wakari Hospital and Queenstown. Dean will be discussing the meaning of certain kupu (words), various Māori dialects and Tikanga.

“Maori Language Week is a week where we all come together and are encouraged to recognise and practice Te Reo – Maori language, Pania Coote, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Māori (Acting Executive Director Māori Health) explains. “For the language to thrive, it needs to be used regularly, introducing a new and simple phrase each week will enable our staff to expand their vocabulary. Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori is also a time to celebrate our national language – Te Reo Māori”.

2015 Ngā Rerenga Kōrero o te Wiki:

http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/what-we-do/te-wiki-o-te-reo-maori/nga-rerenga-korero-o-te-wiki/

ENDS

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