Sun Sep 15 02:45:00 UTC 2024: ## Auckland City Centre Celebrates Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori with Interactive Events and Installations

Aucklanders are being immersed in te reo Māori this week as the city centre transforms into a vibrant celebration of Māori language and culture for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and Mahuru Māori. From giant books to neon art installations, the council has curated a diverse programme of interactive events and exhibitions.

**Giant Book and Neon Art Highlight Māori Language**

A giant version of Peter Gossage’s classic children’s book, “How Māui Slowed the Sun,” translated into te reo Māori, is on display at the Central City Library, inviting young readers to explore the story on a grand scale. Meanwhile, three 2-meter neon art installations on lamp posts in Lorne Street showcase the kupu “Rere,” “Tika,” and “Māori,” encouraging reflection on the importance of fluent, correct, and culturally relevant Māori language.

**Interactive Art and Events Enrich Learning Experience**

An interactive artwork, Waimahara, in Myers Park invites visitors to sing along to specially written waiata (songs), bringing the park to life with light and sound. In the Central City Library, families can enjoy a giant game of scrabble, Kupurori, played with giant tiles and rules designed to encourage word-building in te reo Māori.

**Exhibitions and Displays Celebrate the Eloquence of Te Reo Māori**

The Central City Library is hosting a free exhibition, “Waiwaia Ngā Ngutu / Speak Eloquently,” showcasing taonga Māori (Māori treasures) and highlighting the eloquence of te reo Māori through a rich soundscape. A wall of posters in Lorne Street features whakataukī (proverbs) and whakatauākī (sayings), poetry, and song lyrics in te reo Māori and English, accompanied by photography of Tāmaki Makaurau landmarks.

**Councillor Kerrin Leoni** emphasized the importance of these initiatives in fostering a thriving Māori identity in Tāmaki Makaurau: “This exhibition of taonga tuku iho reflects how te reo Māori has always been fundamental to a thriving Māori identity for Tāmaki Makaurau.”

These diverse events and installations offer a unique opportunity for Aucklanders to engage with te reo Māori, learn new words and phrases, and celebrate the rich heritage of the Māori language. With a variety of activities aimed at different ages and interests, the city centre is truly a hub for learning and celebrating te reo Māori this week.

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