August 19, 2020
Maori Language Week goes virtual
The Maori Language Commission has redesigned Māori Language Week so New Zealanders can come together to celebrate te reo Māori whether they in lockdown or not.
Te Taura Whiri chair Professor Rawinia Higgins says face-to-face like language parades and the annual awards dinner will be replaced with virtual events.
The centrepiece will be the Māori Language Moment at noon on September 14, when the commission wants to get 1 million people speaking, singing and celebrating te reo at the same time.
It will mark the day and the hour in 1972 when a group of Māori language champions presented a 30,000 signature petition on the steps of parliament calling for te reo to be taught in schools.
In another change, the Māori Language Week website becomes the Reo Māori website to support people throughout the year.
www.reomaori.co.nz
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