The best way to get involved this Māori Language Week is to learn Te Reo! The Māori language is considered a national taonga (treasure) and is undergoing a revival. We celebrate Māori Language week to help Te Reo remain a living language embraced throughout New Zealand.

Show your support by practicing these simple words and phrases in everyday conversation.

Discover how we're celebrating Māori Language Week in centre at Westfield Riccaton.

Monty the Monkey is here to help get you across a few everyday phrases.

Here are a few basic greetings

Bearing in mind there are can be multiple ways to say different phrases, we’ll just help you get kick started with one option.

• Hello – Kia ora (fun fact Kia ora also means thank you).
• Bye – Hei konā
• How are you? – Kei te pēhea koe?
• Good – Kei te pai

Learn more about Joseph Carrington the illustrator we partnered with this year here <link to artist Q&A here>

Some Māori place names

Get to know what your local town/city is called.

• Auckland – Tāmaki Makaurau
• Wellington – Te Whanganui-a-Tara
• Christchurch – Ōtautahi
• Dunedin – Ōtepoti

Classic shopping words

When you're visiting us here at Westfield, be sure to practice these in your daily shopping adventures!

• Where is the Kids Play Area? Kei hea te Wāhi Tākaro mō Ngā Tamariki?
• What day is Monty Mornings? He aha te rā tū ai a Monty Mornings?
• How are you today? Kei te pēhea koe i tēnei rā?
• Where would I find the supermarket? Kei hea te hokomaha?
• Let’s get something to eat. Me haere ki te kai.
• Can I please try this on? Tēnā, ka taea rānei e ahau te whakamau tēnei?

Classic sporting terms

Some easy terms and words to use when standing on the sidelines of the sports pitch each Saturday morning.

• Coach – Kaiwhakaako
• Referee – Kaiwawao
• Score – Kaute
• Win/winner – Toa
• Start/Kick off – Tīmatatia
• Foul – Hara