Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is an important week across New Zealand.  

A chance to share te reo and tikangi, learn something new and show appreciation for one of New Zealand’s official languages.  

This year LPC collaborated with our friends across the CCHL group to hold shared online events throughout the week. 

The collaboration was an opportunity to share our own experiences, expertise and interests. 

This was highlighted during the Māori Language Moment, where the Māori Language Commission encouraged people to speak, sing, read or learn te reo, all at 12pm on Tuesday September 14.  

While being in COVID-19 Alert Level 2 may have restricted gatherings, the group jumped online to celebrate. 

Lead by LPC’s Māori Development Advisor Tahu Stirling, 180 people across the group came together to celebrate te reo through singing waiata.  

Throughout the week, we also held a range of micro events, focusing on small and easy opportunities to try something new.  

This included things like how to lay the perfect hangi, oruarua whakaoriori (a Māori form of tai chi) or forming your own pepeha. 

LPC Māori Development Advisor Tahu Stirling says he was proud to see people across CCHL embrace te reo.  

“Even though we held these events online, there was still support from all the companies and people were able to adapt and celebrate in their own ways. 

“Holding regular, bite-sized workshops meant they were easy for staff to attend and something we will be carrying on with in the future.” 

Of course, celebrating te reo should not be reduced to one week a year.  

LPC holds weekly waiata group sessions and is working to incorporate tikanga into everyday life at the Port.