Toitū Te Reo Festival returns to challenge and inspire

 

Reo enthusiasts will be uplifted, challenged and inspired when Toitū Te Reo, the only national Māori language festival, returns to Heretaunga on November 13-14. 

“If you believe in te reo, if you want to do more for te reo, if you want to take two days to give your mauri to feed the mauri of the language - then Toitū is for you,” says Toitū Te Reo founder Dr Jeremy Tātere Macleod.  

Te Mātāwai is honoured to be the only platinum sponsor of Toitū Te Reo and our Board members and kaimahi were excited to join the breakfast launch last month. It was attended by Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po and Dr. Sir Tīmoti Kāretu who have been drivers and patrons of the Toitū Te Reo movement.  

This year’s theme Titiro Whakaroto – Look Within, is a call to reset, renew, and bring fresh thinking to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.  

Toitū Te Reo symposiums are now running in two spaces: 
- Rangimamao, full immersion in te reo Māori. 
- Pūmotomoto, delivered in English. 

These will feature keynote addresses, panels, rangatahi voices and grassroots stories exploring some of the most pressing issues for te reo today such as AI, sustaining reo in the home and language trauma. Hastings CBD will also come alive with a free street celebration, featuring concerts, presentations, expo areas, and wānanga. 

Come and visit our Te Mātāwai stall where we will be sharing our Hawaiki Mokopuna vision, answering investment round and research pātai, and running competitions to give away awesome goodie bags.  

Kia kamakama, grab yourself a ticket here: Toitū Te Reo Festival Symposiums 2025 - Hastings - Eventfinda(external link)