Ko wai tō ingoa? Healing from language trauma by renaming and reclaiming ourselves using te reo Māori

About this research

This publication shares the narratives of reclaiming Māori names through te reo Māori, grounded in kaupapa of language revitalisation and ancestral naming practices. Written entirely in te reo, it centres the lived experiences of those reconnecting with their identity through the reclamation of ingoa Māori.
Sharing stories of resistance, healing and transformation, the book contributes to the normalisation and regeneration of te reo Māori across generations. It offers an accessible and empowering resource for whānau, reo learners and Māori communities, supporting identity, wellbeing and the continued use of te reo in everyday life.

Project Lead - Dr Hotukura Wharehoka (Taranaki, Te Atiawa, Ngā Ruahine) Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi

“Without the Whakaaweawe Publication Grant I would never have dreamed I could put a te reo Māori publication together. This funding enabled me to learn how to engage with artists and graphic designers to manifest the true wairua of the book in visual form and to uphold the mana motuhake of the kaikōrero from conception to fruition. As a Kaupapa Māori scholar, I have been supported to apply the principles of Mana Wahine and Pūrākau theories to not only the research but due to this fund, I was able to see it embodied within the final outcome - a love letter to our reo and our reo champions.”