Kaikohe Celebrated as Town Where Every Week is Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

A new bilingual exploration of Te Tai Tokerau has highlighted the strength of te reo Māori in the community of Kaikohe, where local leaders say the language is a natural part of everyday life. In the five-part RNZ podcast series Reo Journeys: Te Pou Herenga Tai, released on 14 September 2026, journalists Eugene Bingham, Adam Dudding, and James Dansey traveled the 87 km cycle trail to document the cultural renaissance of the region. Far North District Mayor Moko Tepania, who identifies as a second-language learner, told the reporters that Kaikohe exists in a "bubble" where Māori Language Week is an everyday reality. According to 2023 Census data cited in the report, approximately 25 percent of the town’s 4,700 residents are Māori speakers. Tepania, who uses the ceremonial title Kahika o Te Hiku o Te Ika, noted that he can spend entire days communicating solely in te reo Māori within the community. The journey along the rail corridor from Ōpua to Hokianga showcased various examples of language immersion, including the Rumaki Cafe where no English is spoken by staff or patrons. The podcast team also met with kaiwhatu (weavers) led by Makereta Jahnke, who described how the act of extracting muka fibre from kōrari (flax) is accompanied by traditional kōrero and waiata. Beyond the language, the series explores significant sites such as Ngāwhā Springs. Manager Nathan Bryant shared the history of the springs, which were discovered by the tupuna wahine Kareariki over 400 years ago. The project, supported by Te Māngai Pāho, documents both the historical challenges faced by local whānau regarding land and the modern vibrancy of a community deeply connected to its indigenous roots and environment.