Ngāti Whakaue futureproofing te reo through kura reo

Nestled among the geysers, hot springs and mud pools, Ngāti Whakaue of Rotorua are building the reo capability of whānau, one kura reo at a time. 

Te Kura Reo o Ngāti Whakaue was set up by iwi trust, Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue to revive and retain te reo Māori among the iwi, offering classes for beginners, experts and everyone in between. 

Kaiwhakahaere, Kiharoa Milroy says there’s a common misconception about the state of te reo Māori in Rotorua.

“Ko te pōhehe nui e kaha ana te reo ki konei ki Rotorua nā te nui o ngā kapa haka. Heoi anō, kaha te kapa haka, kaha tonu te ū o te iwi ki te ao Māori engari anō te reo Māori - koirā te taha e ngoikore tonu ana.”   

An iwi dedicated to reo revitalisation, this kura reo is a part of a wider offering to uri, including kura koeke (weekly reo classes for kaumātua), wānanga paepae and wānanga rangatahi. 

Providing opportunities for whānau to strengthen their reo is part of the wider strategic vision of the iwi, who hope to build a paepae, “three rows deep.”  

“Ko te mahi nui a te hapori me ngā whānau Māori, he ako i te reo Māori me te whāngai i roto i ngā kāinga. Ka māori noa te reo Māori ki ngā tamariki, anā, ka Māori noa te reo Māori i a rātou e hīkoi ana i ō rātou ara.” says Kiharoa. 

You can watch the full episode here(external link).