Cultural activities in South celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Maori

Nau mai ki Te Wiki o te Reo Maori. Welcome to Maori Language Week.

Te reo is being celebrated across the South and beyond this week as part of the annual cultural celebrations Te Wiki o te Reo Maori.

Among those taking part in the week of cultural learning are Omakau School children (top, from left) Sadidas Gardiner Paikea (6), Meg Kirk (7) and Aaleyah Caughey (7), who have been busy reading te reo, making poi and Maori bread.

They will also spend the week doing weaving and playing various games, among other activities.

Meanwhile in Oamaru, library assistant Lisa Potaka-Ross (above) holds up a prize for participants, a reusable grocery bag, as she gets ready to host another round of wharewhare, or bingo, during Maori Language Week activities at the library, where lunchtime wharewhare will be played until Thursday.

Maori Language Week has been celebrated each year since 1975.

It coincides with Maori Language Day on September 14, which commemorates the presentation of the 1972 Maori Language petition to Parliament.

It asked for active recognition of te reo Maori.