Māori Language Commission partners with Go Media to set a record for Language Moment

AUCKLAND, Friday: OOH specialist Go Media is helping Te Taura Whiri/Māori Language Commission to continue with their award-winning campaign Māori Language Moment.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori ceo Ngahiwi Apanui said: “From tomorrow, we are encouraging all New Zealanders to stop and take a moment for te reo Māori.

“Your moment can be as simple or as hard as you want it to be. You could Kōrero/Speak, Whakarongo/Listen, Ako/Learn, Tākaro/Play, Pānui/Read or Waiata/Sing.

“Last year 1 million New Zealanders sang, recited poetry, paddled waka ama, prayed and celebrated their way into history.

”The goal this year is to set the world record for people speaking and celebrating an endangered, indigenous language at the same time and with Go Media’s support and amplification we hope to create the biggest virtual celebration of an endangered language on earth.”

“It takes one generation to lose a language – and three to get it back.”

Go Media director Andrea Rongonui and her team are proud of their Māori roots. “As a company we are continuously looking for opportunities to champion Te Ao Māori [the Māori world] in everything we do.”

“While we have all been in lockdown, we have been running regionally themed content driving awareness of the Māori Language Moment. We will be dynamically updating how many people have signed up for the moment across our digital outdoor screens.”

Māori Language Commissioner Professor Rawinia Higgins said: “It takes one generation to lose a language and three to get it back. If we are to safeguard te reo we need 1 million speakers by 2040.”

The Kia Kaha creative is running since on 40 + screens from Murihiku (Invercargill) to Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

• Readers who wish to join up for the Māori Language Moment should register at www.reomaori.co.nz
• Māori Language Commission: www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz