Events In History
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1 August 1987Māori becomes official languageThe Maori Language Act came into force, meaning that te reo Māori could now be used in some legal proceedings. The Act also established the Maori Language Commission. Read more...
Articles
Māori Language Week
Every year since 1975 New Zealand has marked Māori Language Week - Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori. This is a time to celebrate te reo Māori (the Māori language) and to use more Māori phrases in everyday life. In 2016 Māori Language Week runs from 4-10 July, the theme is ākina to reo – behind you all the way which is about using te reo Māori to support people, to inspire and to cheer on.
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Page 2 – History of the Māori language
The story of the decline and revival of the Māori language is one of the major issues in modern New Zealand history.
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Page 3 – 100 Māori words every New Zealander should know
100 Maori words for everyday usage. We have included individual sound files of spoken versions of all these words – just click on the word and it will be spoken!
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Page 4 – A Māori word a day
365 words and phrases in te reo Māori
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Page 6 – Waitangi Tribunal claim
The Waitangi Tribunal claim for te reo Māori
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Page 7 – Further information
Find out more about Māori Language Week
US Forces in New Zealand
Seventy years ago, in June 1942, the first American soldiers landed on New Zealand soil, to begin an 'invasion' which would have a profound impact on both visitors and hosts over the next 18 months.
- Page 9 - Americans and Māori There were considerable tensions between the Americans and Māori, so strenuous efforts were made to build inter-racial bridges.
Parliament's culture and traditions
Explore Parliament's rich history and its colourful culture and traditions.
- Page 6 - Parliament in te reoTe reo (the Māori language) came into Parliament with the first Māori MPs, elected in
Missionaries
The Christian missionaries of the pre-1840s have been described as the 'agents of virtue in a world of vice', although they were not immune to moral blemish themselves.
- Page 6 - Printing the word of GodFrom the mid-1830s the printed word became a new weapon in the campaign to bring Christianity to
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Main image: National Māori Speech Contest winners, 1985
Marama Ormsby (left) and Erina Hurihanganui won the 1985 National Māori Speech Contest held in Wellington.
