Workers encouraged to korero maori for Maori Language Week

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +1200

This week (4-10 July) is Māori Language Week, and all New Zealanders are being encouraged to include some te reo in their interactions with workmates and family members.

‘Our key message is about promoting Māori language use in communities and homes' says Māori Language Commission (Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Māori) chief executive Glenis Philip-Barbara.

The theme for this year's Māori Language Week is manaakitanga or hospitality. Union values of solidarity and mutual support are a good fit with this core concept, says EPMU organiser Thomas Webster.

‘The EPMU in New Zealand is part of a family of unions here and across the world,' says Webster. ‘Every year we welcome union visitors from many countries to New Zealand, and we engage in a number of international meetings and campaigns with union representatives from across the world.'

The EPMU has established its own runanga, dealing with education and organising of Māori delegates and workers. Joe O'Connor was appointed kaumatua of the union and recognized in that position by the EPMU national executive in 2004.

‘It's an example of how we put Māori cultural principles into practice,' says Webster.

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Workers encouraged to korero maori for Maori Language Week