Te Rā Mō te Reo Maori - Maori language Day

Te Rā Mō te Reo Maori (Maori Language Day) marks the date in 1972 when a petition calling for courses in Maori language and culture to be offered in New Zealand schools was presented at Parliament. That petition was an important step in the eventual foundation of the Maori Language Commission and to the recognition of Maori as an official language of New Zealand.

At Mairtown Kindergarten we celebrated this day with a traditional Maori boil-up served with paraoa parai (fried bread). Preparations began yesterday as we cooked the brisket and pork strips for several hours.

Today it was all hands on deck. We had lots of Whanau involved this morning peeling and chopping the kumara and potatoes to be added to the boil-up, along with the cabbage and watercress.

Kim was busy with the children kneading, rolling, cutting and frying the delicious pararoa parai.

We had a special manuhiri (visitor) today, Roimata who is our Pou Whakarewa Tikanga Maori (Maori advisor) for Northland Kindergarten Association. We were so lucky she was able to spend the day with us even making time to demonstrate some beautiful poi work to the children.

Maori Language day has become an important day to celebrate the Maori language and an opportunity to encourage others to use reo Maori. Thank you for helping celebrate this day with us.

                           Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi  

With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive

Christine