Te Reo Archives | E-Tangata

It’s not “our” reo if you’re Pākehā

Posted by Taea Staples | Jun 28, 2026 | Reo

“I’m not arguing that Pākehā can’t learn te reo Māori. Anyone can learn te reo Māori, speak te reo Māori, and have a relationship with te reo Māori. But only Māori can claim te reo as ‘ours’.” — Taea Staples.

A journey of one hundred languages

Posted by Makaira Waugh | May 3, 2026 | Reflections

“It’s only a small effort and a smattering of words against the sea of culture and history, but my small effort in many directions has taken some of the bitterness from my heart and brought me into relation with the entire world of people.” — Makaira Waugh.

‘You can’t speak what you can’t hear’

Posted by Dion Enari & Sierra Keung | May 28, 2023 | Reo

“It wasn’t very long ago that Indigenous athletes would only speak English during interviews. So the fact they will now use their star status to raise awareness of their culture and language is a sign of progress.” — Dion Enari & Sierra Keunga.

We don’t see te reo as ‘Māori nonsense’

Posted by Rawinia Higgins | May 1, 2022 | Reo

“Te reo Māori is endangered in the land it comes from. It is a language that is native to this country and like an endangered bird, its future depends on what we do.” — Professor Rawinia Higgins.

Solar power and forgiveness

Posted by Anton Blank | Sep 19, 2021 | Reo

“In the digital age, it’s naïve to think that we can control the use and growth of te reo — which I believe is a positive thing. The language is flourishing, and I, for one, embrace the change with gay abandon.” — Anton Blank.

A commitment to younger voices

Posted by Quinton Hita | Aug 8, 2021 | Arts, Reo

“I can’t watch the show without cringing at the risque subject matter. Auē. But if they made the show based on my sensibilities, there would be ZERO rangatahi watching it.” — Quinton Hita on the bilingual drama series Ahikāroa.

Reikura Kahi: Fuelling a love for te reo

Posted by Dale Husband | Apr 11, 2021 | Kōrero

“It’s up to us to keep fighting for our language and ensure its survival. Our language is essential to our identity as Māori.” — Reikura Kahi.

The Māori voice comes in English as well as te reo

Posted by E-Tangata | Mar 14, 2021 | Media

“English is the language that reaches all the politicians and the voters, including the journalists and teachers and lawyers and doctors and nurses and academics and business leaders and all the others who play a part in shaping our society.”

We owe so much to Huirangi

Posted by Andrew Robb | Apr 19, 2020 | Reflections

“Huirangi met every test of his strength, courage, integrity and leadership to secure the rights of future generations to the language of his tipuna.” — Andrew Robb on Huirangi Waikerepuru.