Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2026: Statistics reveal significant rise in non-Māori language learners

On Monday, 14 September 2026, Aotearoa marks the start of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with new data highlighting a surge in language revitalisation across diverse communities. According to the 2023 Census, the number of people capable of holding everyday conversations in te reo Māori reached 214,000, representing a 44% increase over the previous decade. While 85% of these speakers identify as Māori, growth among other ethnicities is striking, with Pākehā speakers increasing by 67% and Asian speakers by 106%. Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr, chief executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission), says the growth reflects a strategy to frame te reo as a language for all New Zealanders. Speaking on the launch of the 2026 celebrations, Apanui-Barr noted that everyone has the right to learn and speak te reo, an approach that has helped dismantle barriers to engagement. To mark the opening day, the commission has launched "Te Reo Towns," providing grants to community organisations to normalise the language in everyday public spaces. The human impact of this growth is evident in families like that of Joe Horsman and Kieren Gera (Ngā Pōtiki, Ngāti Whakaue). Horsman, originally from England, has committed to a bilingual household for their children, Reia and Kahotea. After studying through Te Ataarangi for two years, Horsman now speaks te reo to his tamariki 80% of the time. Gera says that while raising children in her second language is challenging, hearing her partner and children converse in Māori is a dream come true. Similarly, Pākehā research manager Alex Barnes, who was raised in immersion education, continues the legacy with his six-year-old daughter, Hautonga. Barnes, who works for Te Rau Ora, says te reo Māori fosters a vital orientation toward the collective good and community connection.