Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori
The language is the life force of the mana Māori.
This whakataukī highlights that, for Māori as for all children, understanding and using language is intimately connected with culture and is central to our sense of identity, belonging and wellbeing. It is important to acknowledge the central role te reo Māori has in cultural regeneration and ensure that it not only survives but thrives by using it regularly. This includes understanding and incorporating local dialect, stories and tikanga of Mana whenua.
The flow of sounds, words and meanings is unique to each language, so respecting the mana of every individual - both adult and child - requires us to adjust our language to effectively convey meaning. A rich language environment is one in which attention is paid to elements such as correct pronunciation, tone, intonation, rhythm, repetition, and metaphor. This is particularly important for te reo Māori as its survival is dependent on its continued visibility and use in Aotearoa New Zealand. In addition to everyday interactions, children hear the richness of te reo Māori through repeated use of waiata, pūrākau, karakia and whakataukī. It is therefore important for kaiako to develop their own knowledge of te reo Māori in order to effectively enhance ‘te rere o te reo’.
