Thousands register for grassroots Māori language initiative

It's a Māori language revitalisation concept that started with just one person in 2014, but now thousands of New Zealanders all around Aotearoa are participating in Mahuru Māori (Māori September).

The idea is simple, to consciously speak more of the Māori language everyday during the month of September. 

Mahuru Māori began as a social experiment six years ago when Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaimahi Paraone Gloyne decided to only speak Māori for the entire month as a way of normalising the language. 

The idea quickly grew with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (TWOA) actively promoting the initiative as a means of encouraging staff and students to increase their use of te reo Māori.

TWOA chief executive Te Ururoa Flavell says their goal for Mahuru Māori 2020 is to get more than 12,000 registered participants actively using te reo Māori during the month of September to bring awarness to and help revitalise the Māori language.

It's providing a range of resources to support participants including Mahimaina, a te reo Māori Minecraft competition.

Flavell says Mahuru Māori is TWOA’s koha to revitalising te reo Māori and encourages beginners through to advance speakers to register.

Watch his full interview with The Hui.