Te reo Māori i Te PapaMāori language at Te Papa

Te reo Māori activity book

Primary

Celebrate Māori language by learning Māori words and phrases through simple activities. Download two free activity books for kids – focused on pronunciation, the other includes more word searches, crossword, colouring pages, and stories.

Te reo Māori quiz

Brush up on your basic te reo Māori through a quick quiz!

What’s in a name? The trail to Ngā Taniwha o Rūpapa

Ariki Spooner, Kaitaki Tīma Tuhituhi Reo Māori, discusses the process of arriving at the te reo Māori name Ngā Taniwha o Rūpapa for the Dinosaurs of Patagonia exhibition over summer 2023–2024. 

The value of te reo Māori

'The first time a baby was born in this country, te reo Māori was the language; the first time lovers fell in love, and fell out of love, te reo Māori was the language; the first time conflict occurred and was resolved, te reo Māori was the language.’ Dr Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal shares his kōrero about the value of te reo Māori in Aotearoa.

Te reo Kiwi: Are you using Māori every day?

Te Papa is always looking for creative ways to promote te reo Māori. What are some of the ways we’re doing that?

What’s your favourite kupu?

As it’s Māori Language Week, we asked people from around Te Papa to share their favourite te reo Māori kupu (word). We want to hear what yours is too!

Te Wiki o te reo Māori stories from The Wireless

Curator Mātauranga Māori Matariki Williams is guest-editing over at The Wireless for Te Wiki o te reo Māori. Over the week we’ll be republishing their offerings here.

Te reo Māori glossary

Here are some of the te reo Māori kupu (words) you might encounter during your visit to Te Papa or on our websites.

Watch: Tour of Te Taiao | Nature for Māori Language Week

Museum Education Specialist Haley Stewart teaches simple Māori kupu about Te Taiao | Nature. Designed for learners and confident speakers of te reo Māori. Kia kaha te kōrero Māori!

The language of agile methodology in te reo Māori: being kakama

Tū mai. Panuku. Kōkiri. Stand Up. Next. Initiate. In our daily behind the scenes work we use agile methodology and te reo – but we can always do better.

Watch: Four te reo Māori pronunciation tips

Kaiako (teacher) Joan Costello takes us through four helpful tips to keep in mind when pronouncing te reo Māori. Kia ora! (Good luck!)

Pākehā: The real meaning behind a beautiful word

Sometimes, the origins behind reo words can get lost in translation, their meanings altered to mean something derogatory or unpleasant. Kaiako (teacher) Joan Costello shares a kōrero (story) behind the word Pākehā, and helps us understand the beauty of the word.