In line with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, a nationwide business network, Te Hononga Pakihi Reo Māori, has been launched by the Māori Language Commission, Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Māori.
The Te Reo Māori Business Network’s founding members include the likes of McDonalds NZ, Foodstuffs and Countdown, Air New Zealand, Sky TV, and Stuff Group Te Puna among others.
Open to all New Zealand businesses, the network looks to provide a safe space for firms to share their practices and learnings so the Māori Language Commission can better support the private sector.
“Whether its sports stadiums that have bilingual announcements, newspapers with articles in te reo, flight crews that welcome you in te reo, or supermarkets with self-checkouts that speak Māori,” says Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Māori chief executive, Ngahiwi Apanui.
“New Zealand businesses are embracing te reo Māori and we are here to support them.”
The free virtual network is a part of New Zealand’s contribution to the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL), declared by the United Nations as a decade that aims to raise awareness of the crucial role that languages play in people’s lives.
“This week marks Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, 51 years on from when the Māori Language Petition was presented to Parliament on 14 September 1972,” reads New Zealand’s Parliament website.
“As well as reflecting on our personal journeys with te reo Māori, this week is also a great chance to reflect on the journey of te reo Māori in Parliament.
“The petition played a significant role in the journey to revitalise te reo Māori by calling for government recognition of the language as a taonga in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
New Zealanders are invited to embrace and celebrate te reo Māori at 12pm on 14 September. Acknowledge the past, celebrate the present, and prepare for the future this Māori Language Day. Visit https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features/celebrate-te-wiki-o-te-reo-m%C4%81ori-2023/ and https://www.reomaori.co.nz/ for more information.
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