Tamati Ellison, Wairangi Koopu and Bella Kalolo are all lending their voices to get more people excited about te reo Māori.

Tamati (Ngāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Raukawa) says, “I think there are a lot of speakers like me that don’t get to speak that often, but are still passionate about the language. Being involved in the Māori Language Week 2012 campaign it is a way for me to express my commitment to te reo, and it also keeps me around te reo Māori. It is really important to me that we teach our kids”.

This is his second year running where he’s featured in Māori Language Week promotions. His own reo journey started at home before joining a bilingual unit at Porirua Primary School. He credits his love for the reo to two influential teachers, Ruia Aperahama and Dean Umu and his parents, who were also learning te reo while Tamati was at school.

Bella Kalolo (Ngāti Porou, Samoan, Tongan) is an accomplished composer and vocalist who took out the award for the Best Pacific Female Vocalist recently. Bella is the lead vocalist in this year’s Theme Song.

Being involved in Māori Language Week, Bella says, “It is so awesome. It is great to know that I can participate and also give back too. As our generations grow, we need to incorporate Māori language in everyday living”.

Like Tamati, Bella’s enthusiasm for te reo Māori was created at home and school where she first learnt Māori greetings and numbers. Samoan was the language spoken at home and once her mother became fluent in te reo Māori, she’d speak to Bella in Māori in front of Samoan people and Samoan in front of Māori people.

Tripartite partners Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata (Human Rights Commission) and Te Puni Kōkiri are proud to be associated with another successful Māori Language Week.

“Having Tamati, Wairangi and Bella front the ‘Arohatia te Reo’ campaign helps to keep our reo alive and makes it more exciting for our tamariki mokopuna too,” says Te Puni Kōkiri Deputy Chief Executive Herewini Te Koha. “Bella can sing! And Wairangi and Tamati talking ‘the language of love’ and going shopping for lingerie is hard case. Ka wani kē!”.