On the 14 September members of Ngā Tamatoa and Te Rōpu Reo Māori Society delivered the Māori language petition containing more than 30,000 signatures to Parliament. This inspired the first Māori Language Day in 1972 and was followed by celebrations of Māori Language Weeks from 1975 onwards.
For more background to the reo petition of 1972 read these articles from a range of news sources.
- The Spinoff – 20.8.2022 – Remembering Hana Te Hemara’s Māori language petition, 50 years on
- E-Tangata -4.9.2022 My mum my mountain – Hana Te Hemara
- Wairoa Star – 25.8.2022 – Te reo petition focus of conference
In the Wairoa Star article above, Dr Joseph Te Rito, who is also the brother of Ara’s Kaumatua Poutama, Harry Westrupp, shares his part in driving the reo petition of September 14 1972.
Visit Te wiki o te reo Māori – Ao Māori – Subject Guide and get inspired to learn more reo.
Te Petihana Reo Māori 50th Anniversary Event
Attend this Māori Language Petition (Te Petihana) event online on 14 September commemorating this significant time for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Schedule
Opening karakia and speeches: 11:30am
Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori – Māori Language Moment: 12pm
Livestream
The event will be broadcasted live on:
Whakaata Māori website
Māori+ app on Apple or Google Play
Māori Television channel on TVEvent details
Parliament forecourt, corner of Lambton Quay and Molesworth St, Pipitea Wellington
Wenerei 14 o Hepetema (Wednesday 14 September)
11:30am – 1pm
Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.
Language is the life force of Māori.
Ara Library Blog 