Māori Language Week Celebrates 50 Years

This year, New Zealand is marking 50 years of celebrating Māori Language Week! The 2025 theme is “Ake ake ake – A forever language”, showing that te reo Māori will always be an important part of our country.

The week began with a big moment in 1972, when more than 30,000 people signed a petition asking for te reo Māori to be taught in schools. It was handed to Parliament on 14 September, a date that is still remembered today.

In 1975, the first Māori Language Day was held. Later, it grew into a full week of activities and became known as Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. In 1987, te reo Māori was made an official language of New Zealand, and a group called Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission) was set up to help promote it.

Now, Māori Language Week is celebrated all over the country. Schools, businesses, sports teams, and even TV shows take part. In 2015, the Black Caps cricket team used the name “Aotearoa”, and in 2017, the Disney movie Moana was released in Māori with free screenings across the country.

Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, who leads the Māori Language Commission, says she wants everyone in New Zealand to use te reo Māori more often. “Every word counts,” she says.

One of the biggest events was in 2021, when 1.1 million people spoke or sang in Māori at the same time during the Māori Language Moment.

Want to get involved? Try learning some new Māori words, watch a Māori-language show, or practice saying everyday things in te reo. It’s a fun way to be part of this special celebration — and help keep the language alive forever.