More people learning te reo M¯aori

Te reo Ma¯ori is a beautiful language that more people should be engaging in, a Timaru librarian says.

As the nation celebrates Te Wiki o te Reo Ma¯ori – Ma¯ori Language Week, Timaru Library youth services team leader Anita Dawson has spoken about the importance of learning the language – something she, and 37 of her colleagues, have done through a course offered by Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Te Puna Wa¯ naka.

‘‘Te reo is one of our national languages and we want to be using te reo as often as we can in our working day with our children and members of the public.

‘‘It’s a beautiful language and we enjoy speaking it. We are beginner learners and it’s been really great experience for us to improve our pronunciation and have more of an awareness of vocabulary we can be using in the library.’’

The increasing number of individuals and organisations choosing to study te reo Ma¯ ori has also impressed the people who deliver lessons.

Ara Institute of Canterbury said the language has experienced a resurgence with about 200 more people registered to study it than five years ago.

Ara’s Te Puna Wa¯ naka offers a 10-hour introductory Ma¯ori language course for students with no knowledge of te reo Ma¯ ori or tikanga Ma¯ ori.

Manager Heperi Harris said Ara offers te reo Ma¯ ori courses for businesses and for individuals with positive feedback across.

‘‘For businesses we adjust the content of the courses to fit the organisation’s need. Government organisations are particularly interested and we have worked with Timaru District Council, Ashburton District Council and Waimate District Council staff,’’ Harris said.

He said there are two te reo tutors in Timaru and Ashburton but with the steadily growing demand for courses it is hoped more courses will be offered.

‘‘The reason we are offering these courses is to build better and long lasting relationships with local iwi.’’