leave the macrons alone

This is weird.

macrons are used to denote the sound that should be pronounced - a word with a macron in is different to a word without - they have completely different meanings they are different words. Like chalk and cheese.

From Stuff

"Councillor Tony Jack put forward a notice of motion that the council refrain from using macrons in the spelling of Kapiti, Otaki or Paekakariki in any council papers, publications, maps or signage.

Why would this person even suggest this?"

Laziness or craziness - either way not on.

"The motion was strongly opposed by most councillors and labelled "offensive" and "disrespectful" by the sole Maori representative at last week's meeting, Andre Baker, who was supported by two Maori women who burst into song.

Councillor Peter Daniel voted against the motion. "How do we know how to pronounce the names unless there is a macron?"

Mr Baker, the Otaki Community Board chairman, stressed that the Maori language was a gift, and opposed the motion. "I ask you to consider this before you tell Maori how to use their own language. You are doing a huge disservice to our tangata whenua.

"It is really disrespectful and offensive to my community. We are very proud our community clearly identifies with Maori, Chinese and non-Maori and of our bilingual initiative."

Mr Baker told mayor Jenny Rowan that the council needed to work harder on its partnership with tangata whenua. "If this had been dealt with in an appropriate manner I would not be here trying to justify the gift."

Work harder to be in partnership with maori - respect the customs and the knowledge of maori and your community will prosper and flourish.

KMK WHĀNAU HUI 2010

Important notice for those helping to revitalise our language

KMK WHĀNAU HUI 2010


Tēnā koutou kā pākaiahi o tō tātou reo e whitawhita kaha ana ki kā kāika maha.

He pānui tēnei mo koutou kā manu matarae, ka tū ētahi hui-a-whānau mo kā whānau e whakatipu tamariki ana i te reo Māori hai reo mātua ki te kāika, arā kā pou o tō tātou tino kaupapa, Kotahi Mano Kāika, Kotahi Mano Wawata.

Ko ēnei kā hui:

1. 16 - 18 April 2010: Haere ki te roto Kaniere, Te Tai Poutini (Tirohia ngā wāhi pounamu ki te Tai Poutini)

2. 14 - 16 May 2010: Noho ki te marae o Tuahiwi: (Haerenga ki Orana Park me ētahi atu wāhi ngahau o te taone nui o Otautahi )

3. 4 - 6 June 2010 : Noho ki te marae o Ōtākou: (Haerenga ki Cadbury World, Ngā Pūrerehua ki te Whare Taonga me te puna kaukau nui)

Toitū te Kura team are facilitating 3 whānau hui for those KMK whānau who are fluent in te reo , who are raising te reo speaking tamariki in the home, bringing together mātua and tamariki in a fun te reo Māori immersion environment. There are limited places available for each hui. If you and your whānau are interested in attending any of these hui or would like more information please contact Paulette Tamati-Elliffe for more details.

Telephone: 0800524824

Email: paulette@ngaitahu.iwi.nz

Kura Reo Kai Tahu

Kura Reo Kai Tahu - wonderful initiative - thank you.


From Al WILLIAMS - The Timaru Herald via stuff

"Arowhenua's community is celebrating Te Reo Maori with a week of workshops which have attracted people from all over the country.

More than 100 learners and speakers of Maori language have converged on the marae to upskill and put Te Reo into practice with others.

The community is hosting the second annual Kura Reo Kai Tahu (language school of Ngai Tahu) – a project facilitated by Ngai Tahu in an effort to bring generations of the tribe together to speak their dialect in an immersion environment.

Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu representative Charisma Rangipunga said the event was part of the tribe's language revitalisation strategy.

"We invite members of the tribe to come together to practise, upskill and learn new language skills. We endeavour to get to all our marae."

Two pools of people were taking part, with kaumatua taking the lead role.

"All students meet with elders in the morning for an open forum session.

"It is part of them passing on collective memories of their elders," Ms Rangipunga said.

Afternoon classes were dedicated to teaching Ngai Tahu proverbs, archival material, transcripts, dialect and composition lessons, she said.

One of the key components was being able to learn traditional language and to apply it in ways it could be used on the marae.

A team of 50 parents and 30 children had come together with the support of the Arowhenua community, she said.

"Their heritage, their traditions and their ancestors are something they can be proud of."

Arowhenua marae manager Mandy Home said the week had been very busy for the marae. Challenges had included catering for 100 people.

"This week is very important for our people.

"It's a resurgence of the language but it's also about teaching the children the language and taking ownership of their Ngai Tahutanga.

Whanau had given up their free time to uphold the Mana and Aroha of Te Runaka O Arowhenua, she said.

"Finally, Haere tonu Huirapa."

Saving our language = saving our people.

Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2009

Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2009
Celebrate Māori Language Week 2009

Good resources here.

Keep speaking your language

I'm with Tariana on this one
"Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says a Wellington bus company that is asking its workers to speak only English needs a reality check.
Mana Coach Services' company handbook asks its drivers to use only English, even in the staffroom.
Chief executive officer Geoff Norman wrote to the Tramways Union saying "the use of a language in front of others who do not understand what is being said, we consider to be the height of bad manners"."

I enjoy the wide variety of different cultures that have landed in our land. I love the different languages and the different looks and the different shades of human.
We are all different and our individuality is a gift.

Speaking a language in front of others that they don't understand is not the height of bad manners at all - it's actually just speaking to someone in another language. No connotations, no inferences just talking.

As Tariana states, "The company needs to realise that language is the cornerstone of any culture and not giving their staff the right to express themselves to another staff member in a language they both understand is depriving them of their identity."

Whanganui back

The NZ Geographic Boards decision to add the 'h' into the city and district names is a good decision. The mistake was made (and easy to see how it could happen when you are trying to write down an oral language that uses sounds you are not used to).

Michael Laws should just shut up now. He is becoming smaller and less relevant every day.