PĀNUI PĀPAHO | MEDIA STATEMENT

Te 14 o Mahuru 2018 | 14 September 2018

Te Puni Kōkiri right behind Māori language parades

Te Puni Kōkiri is proud to support Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and the many language parades taking place throughout the country this week, says Chief Executive Michelle Hippolite. Many employees have offered their support through volunteering to help organise and facilitate the events.

“We have many language advocates working for Te Puni Kōkiri, at head office and in the regions. Some of these kaimahi have been instrumental in organising marches, others have volunteered their time to support the events, through marshalling the parade and supporting whānau,” says Michelle Hippolite.

Te Puni Kōkiri has been involved in supporting five parades for this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori: the one in Wellington on the 10th; one in Auckland (CBD) on the 13th; the two parades in Manukau and Gisborne today and the final parade in Rotorua on Sunday the 16th.

Wellington turned out in the thousands to support the first Māori language parade on Monday. Michelle Hippolite says the numbers at this year’s parade surpassed that of previous years.

“It is estimated that more than 6000 people turned out in Wellington for the first parade of the week. It is encouraging to see mass support of our language, from both Māori and non-Māori, from young people and kaumātua alike. Our streets have been were filled with choruses of waiata, and tamariki performing haka. Māori and Pākehā marching in the hundreds, side by side, with a single purpose – to promote te reo Māori throughout Aotearoa,” says Michelle Hippolite.

The theme for this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is ‘Kia Kaha te Reo Māori’. It is a call to action to strengthen the use of te reo Māori, regardless of place or situation. Michelle Hippolite says that this aspiration matches the values and vision of Te Puni Kōkiri.

“It is also timely given the release of the draft Maihi Karauna – the Crown’s Māori Language Strategy which outlines what the Crown will do to support a strong, healthy, thriving use of te reo Māori in our country. The public can make submissions on the draft strategy until the end of this month.”

You can find out more at tpk.nz/maihikarauna

Ms Hippolite says, “We are privileged to support kaupapa, like the language marches, that do their part in making te reo Māori an everyday language of our country. Kia kaha te reo Māori!”

ENDS