Te Wiki o te Reo - Māori Language Week

Ake Ake Ake – a forever language is the theme of Te Wiki 2024 – Maori Language Week.

At Rōpū Whakangungu Ahuwhenua Ahumahi (Primary ITO), many of our staff are learning te reo in their own ways, from informal sessions at work, at home with the whānau, to more formal learning through our education colleagues at the wananga or polytechnics.

The Primary ITO whakapapa is very important to acknowledge and respect. Many of our kaimahi Māori were instrumental in guiding and weaving a Te Ao Māori foundation to reflect a commitment to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and set a path of new beginnings.

Soon after Primary ITO was formed more than 10 years ago, it gained the name Rōpū Whakangungu Ahuwhenua Ahumahi. I recently sought insights and knowledge from one of our Ahuwhenua Trophy kaumatua Peter MacGregor, who shared with me the Māori story behind the new name and logo.

Peter MacGregor was the Strategic Manager Māori and Tangata Pasifika at our predecessor organisation AgITO. He led work with respected leaders including three who have since passed on -- Tikirau Stevens, David Rewi Pohatu, and Arapiu (Abe) Seymour). A key contributor to the process was the advice and guidance from Kahurangi Traci Houpapa and others in the agri-business sector

Peter says the keys were acknowledging ‘whakangungu – train’, ‘ahuwhenua – agriculture and farming’, and ‘ahumahi – industry’.

We work on the land, with plants and with water – and these three elements were chosen to make up the three elements of our logo. This is underpinned by the concept of the three baskets of knowledge, Te Kete Tuauri, Te Kete Aronui me Te Kete Tuatea – weaving the past, present and future together.

Primary ITO started off with this connection to te ao Māori and te reo and that has endured. It’s a key part of how we relate to our learners, employers and industries.

Since those initial steps with Rōpū Whakangungu Ahuwhenua Ahumahi representing agriculture and horticulture, we’ve broadened to include areas like food processing, seafood, landscape and others.

Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, tumu whakahaere chief executive at Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, says the theme of ake ake ake captures the endurance of te reo Māori and those who are committed to it.

Nō reira haere tonu ngā mihi ki te hunga kaumātua, ngā pou heretangata o taua wā tonu, tae atu ki koutou ngā tumu herenga waka o ēnei rā, nei rā te mihi whakawhetai ki koutou katoa.

Kāti rā, e ai ki te kōrero, he aha te mea nui o te ao? Māku e kii atu, he tangata he tangata he tangata.

Toitū te whenua, toitū te mana, toitū te reo.

Matiu Julian, Māori Engagement Manager Primary ITO