Summary
Kia tōnui te reo Māori: Prosperous whānau, prosperous reo Māori, examines the
conditions that support the growth, use, and intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori across whānau and communities in Aotearoa. The project focuses on four interconnected areas: te reo o te kāinga-Māori language use in the home, the role of social and community relationships, effective language acquisition processes, and the development of practical resources to support reo Māori revitalisation.
Preliminary findings highlight that te reo o te kāinga, me te reo o te hapori is strongly influenced by a combination of factors. These include supportive whānau environments, access to Kaupapa-Māori education (an aspect highly limited in some hapori), strong social networks where te reo is normalised (including kaupapa that bring whānau with shared interests together), and opportunities to use the language in meaningful, low-pressure contexts. Our research also reinforces the importance of addressing broader structural conditions, such as economic stability, time availability, and experiences of racism, all of which continue to have an impact on prospective reo learners, active learners, and users of te reo.
Our early findings indicate that te reo tuku iho is most possible when whānau are supported not only with language learning tools, but also with strategies that strengthen relationships, reduce anxiety, and create sustainable language practices in everyday life. We also note the importance of friendships in helping to sustain te reo across contexts.
Research Question
- What are prominent factors that enable whānau and reo communities to flourish in Aotearoa?
- How do the intersections between te reo Māori, psychological well-being, economic security, connection to whānau/whakapapa/whenua, education, and community impact on te reo Māori acquisition and use?
- What are the attributes of successful kaupapa that are providing reo change in our communities?
Lead Researcher
Dr. Awanui Te Huia, Te Wānanga o Aoteroa
Highlights
Kia Tōnuitia Te Reo symposium gathered bring together Māori language academics to come up with a pathway to disseminate their research widely into communities that would benefit most. In the media: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/02/12/maori-language-academics-discuss-putting-action-to-research/