Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
Ko te reo, te hā te mauri o te Māoritanga
Language is the very life-breath of being Māori
During Te wiki o te reo Māori, we’re encouraging people to learn some basic te reo phrases. There are plenty of easy ways to start and techniques to help you learn and remember. This week we share a kete matauranga, a basket of resources, to kick start your learning. Users of the library can also find a guide to bi-lingual signage, including sound files for correct pronunciation.
Learning a language is a tremendous skill. Te reo Māori became an official language of New Zealand in 1987, although Te wiki o te reo Māori has been celebrated since 1975.
Get started by getting started!
A comprehensive resource listing has been compiled by te kopuka kaituara, (reference librarian, Māori) Moata Tamaira. It includes dictionaries, courses, and phrases for self study of the Māori language. Our beginner’s kete, includes the Māori alphabet and basic phrases.
Events at the Library
On Monday 21 July, master carver and kaumatua George Edwards will demonstrate his craft on the second floor of the Central library from 10am to 4pm. Come in and see how it is done.
On Tuesday and Friday next week local group Ngā Peka Matauranga O Waitaha will provide some basic Māori language workshops. Tuesday's session is at the Central library from 10am to 12pm and Friday's session is 10am to 12pm at Linwood Library.
New artwork for Bishopdale library: Artist Gavin Britt has created a new carving for the Bishopdale library which will be unveiled on Friday, 25 July 1.30 to 2.30pm. A karakia will precede the unveiling.
Community libraries will also have kapahaka performances throughout the week. Details can be found on the events calendar.
Must-know words and phrases
NZ history.net have listed 100 Māori words that every New Zealander should know, which also has audio to assist with pronunciation. You can also find a guide to protocols and use of language on the Korero Māori web site.
The Korero Māori web site is part of Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission. Their interactive conversations are excellent, and there are sections for learners, speakers and business people. They also have a pronunciation guide and a language club. So now that you know the resources that are offer – have a go!
 Culture and history on Tī Kōuka Whenua
Learning a language is harder without a wider cultural and historical backdrop. Our heritage pages include both local and national Māori heritage information, including myths and legends.
Tī Kōuka Whenua provides rich content on Otautahi and its surrounds before European settlement, and includes audio files. Information on tribal history and art and culture, including kapa haka, weaving, music and writing makes for interesting reading.
Māori place names can tell you a great deal, often describing geographical features or part of the history of a particular place. Each library has a Māori place name linked to its area and many entries in Tī Kōuka Whenua provide background information about places and people around Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. You mqay find it easiest to start with the maps. There is also an alphabetical index.
We recommend: Te reo Māori language learning tools
Our online resources
 Guide to our Māori pages, and the story of our library names- Our beginner’s kete, including the Māori alphabet
- Resource listing for te reo Māori learners
- Days of the week and colours in Māori.
- Pepeha or traditional sayings
- Children’s stories with a Māori focus.
- Resource listing, including dictionaries, course book and television programmes, including:
- Users of the library can also find a guide to bi-lingual signage, including sound files for correct pronunciation.
- Te Kerēme, the Ngāi Tahu Waitangi Tribunal Claim is a searchable, selective index to the Ngāi Tahu claim settlement with the Crown. It provides references to material from the Ngāi Tahu Māori Trust Board Claim before the Waitangi Tribunal. The claim is held in the Ngā Pounamu Māori Centre of the Central Library.
- Those with an interest in history will enjoy our brief guide to the Treaty of Waitangi - a fundamental document in Aotearoa / New Zealand’s history.
- localeye listings for Māori community, education, language and Ngai Tahu links
- Te reo Māori courses from CINCH, our community directory.
- Māori arts and culture pages
- Whakapapa research
- Photos of Māori in our collection
- Maps and alphabetical listings of Māori place names.
Browse the resources in our libraries
 Cultureflow A multimedia set that includes workbook, CD, and CD-ROM, levels 1 & 2- Q’s course in Māori Written by Quinton Hita for beginners, has pronunciation practice and works up to basic sentences
- Pronounce Māori with confidence For beginners who need pronunciation practice, comes with a CD
- Reo Māori o Nāianei
Beginner's course with workbook and CD, featuring songs and exercises, vol.1 and 2
- Te Whanake
Levels 1-4, with workbook, tape, or video components. Also available in an online version, see “online courses”.
- Land of Memories: a contemporary view of places of historical significance in the South Island
- Myths & Legends
- Old Maori place names round Akaroa harbour by Louis J. Vangioni
This week in Christchurch history
What interesting things happened in Christchurch this week? Find out with the help of the Christchurch Chronology on the library website.
- July 13, 1905 Construction of King Edward barracks begins. The building was completed in an amazing 25 days. In the absence of a true Town Hall, it was often the venue for large concerts and civic occasions.
- July 13, 1945 Severe gales with gusts to 145 kilometres per hour (90 miles per hour).
- July 14, 1945
Record snowfall 280mm (11 inches) over most of city.
- July 17, 1861 Work begins on the railway to Lyttelton. Preliminary work on the tunnel had begun in January 1860, but the original contractors had withdrawn in November.
- July 17, 1964 Opening of the Government Life Building in Cathedral Square. It was the city’s first "high rise glass box".
- July 18, 1945
Christchurch’s lowest recorded temperature -7.1 deg C.
- July 19, 1880 Lincoln College opens - the first agricultural college in the Southern Hemisphere.
- July 19, 1988 Jock Orr, nicknamed "The Birdman" after befriending birds in Cathedral Square, dies in Christchurch.
What's new online?
New on the blog
New on the library website
Next week: Expand your horizons with CINCH
Christchurch City Libraries maintains a comprehensive database of community organisations and courses called CINCH - it is your gateway to life, leisure and learning in your community. Discover some options for expanding your horizons next week. |
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