Tears were shed by a generation denied access to te reo when they heard the language sung loudly and proudly by Māori students at the University of Otago.
The university hosted a kapa haka event for the kaumatua (elderly) on campus to celebrate the 50th Te Wiki o Te Reo yesterday.
Waiata and kapa haka from Dunedin bilingual school Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Otepoti, and early learning centre Te Pārekereke o Te Kī as well as other groups were sung and performed to recognise the milestone week.
The university’s toitu te reo (project lead strategist for te reo Maori) Kare Tipa said the event was about promoting the language.
The best way to do that was by singing waiata.
"Waiata are a great way to normalise some of the rhythms, nuances and cadences of the language."
Ms Tipa’s role at the university was to help it prepare for 2040 when it is expected that about one in five students will be te reo speakers.
She wanted te reo speakers to be given the same advantages as English speakers.
"It’s about promoting the language ... because most of us were denied the opportunity to learn the language in schools.
One kaumatua, aged 85, cried during the event because he could remember being denied speaking te reo in his mainstream education.
"He always wanted to have the language but during his time the language wasn’t accessible at school."
Ms Tipa was the first in three generations of her family to have access to learning the language.
It was important the next generation had access to learning te reo, she said.
"It’s a language to protect and go forth on and grow.
"We need to do that because we understand our histories where our ancestors were denied the opportunities and consequently have suffered trauma because of that."
