Our Whānau – Te Wiki o te reo Māori
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is an annual celebration for all New Zealanders to show their support for the Māori language, an official language of this country.
The theme for Te Wiki 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of our language. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders have to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future.
Three of our leaders share how they are embracing and learning te reo Māori.
Anna Palairet, Chief Operating Officer
“Aotearoa, New Zealand is the only country in the world to have te reo as a national language. We’re incredibly lucky to have such a cultural treasure and I feel privileged to be learning a few words. I grew up in Hawkes Bay and my father was involved with the māori schools in the area. I was always proud of his ability to speak and understand te reo and his connection to te ao māori.”
“We have many Kaimahi Māori in our workforce and māori farmers in our Co-op, as well as engaging deeply with the communities in which we work and local iwi in our care for whenua (land) and water. Taking time to understand and respect the different perspectives and needs of these stakeholders is critical to our success.”
We have many Kaimahi Māori in our workforce and māori farmers in our Co-op, as well as engaging deeply with the communities in which we work and local iwi in our care for whenua (land) and water.
“In Operations we are proud to have the largest group of Kaimahi Māori in the Co-op. I’m spending time learning and understanding the language to ensure I’m not only able to connect more inclusively but also be respectful to our cultural foundations. Hopefully my early-stage attempts will also encourage others to give te reo a go!”
Emma Parsons, Managing Director, Strategy and Optimisation
“I started learning te reo at primary school with my parents, through night classes called Te Atarangi. I also participated in kapa haka through school.”
“For myself personally, I am from Patea, which is a mainly māori community where many important events were held on the marae or in te reo. Understanding some te reo and tikanga then was important to be able to fit in and is even more important to me now as I understand the history of the area and of the farm that I grew up on.
“As a leader I celebrate the significant proportion of our workforce who are māori and their incredible contribution on so many levels and hope to live up to their expectations and make Fonterra a place where they want to be and where they see themselves succeeding. As a New Zealander, I think it’s important that we honour te tiriti and celebrate te reo and tikanga as part of our unique competitive advantage.”
“I am still learning, and recently completed He Papa Tikanga through Te Wananga o Aotearoa which is a free course that I would recommend everyone take advantage of. I also try and help my children understand the history of Aotearoa and the magic of te ao māori. I’m a huge fan of our new Fonterra waitata, so have been singing that at every opportunity as well!”
Mike Cronin, Managing Director Co-operative Affairs
“For me, te reo Māori is one of the best ways of feeling connected to the cultural identity of Aotearoa, New Zealand. There’s no stronger sense of pride than when it’s brought to life – by amazing orators but also by those who are keen to give it a go. It’s one of the things that make me feel good about being a New Zealander.”
“It’s always struck me that te ao Māori and Co-operatives have a lot in common. Close collaboration to get better and safer outcomes, strong connection to the land, and the importance of looking out beyond generations. I see that the Pou, use of karakia and waiata, help reinforce that closeness. They are also unique to this part of the world and seeing visitors and customers and colleagues who aren’t from Aotearoa always lifts my spirit.”
“Growing up in the olden days meant that I’ve missed out on some of the experiences that help make connecting with te reo second nature. I’ve got a five-year old nephew, who has been in full immersion te reo since he was a toddler, and he moves in and out of both his languages with confidence and naturalness. I continue to struggle with retaining enough vocabulary to be of much use, but my kids, grandkids and nephews and nieces are always keen to provide in the moment feedback. And every now and then I can surprise them – a bit.”