Ake, Ake, Ake: Intergenerational Commitment Fuels Te Reo Māori Revitalisation

A new generation of learners in Tāmaki Makaurau is embracing te reo Māori as a vital tool for understanding the history and future of Aotearoa. According to RNZ, the theme for this year’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, 'Ake, Ake, Ake – A Forever Language,' highlights the intergenerational effort required to keep the language thriving. Māori Language Commissioner Professor Rawinia Higgins described the revitalisation as a 'three-generation kaupapa,' where each person's effort contributes to the linguistic survival for those who follow. At Selwyn Community Education, the classroom has become a hub for this cultural reconnection. For Aidan Te Whata, who has whakapapa to Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Rongowhakaata, and Ngāpuhi, learning the language is a way to reclaim an identity that was not passed down in his youth. Te Whata, now in his 30s, told RNZ he no longer accepts the outdated view of Māori as a 'dead language.' Instead, he feels he is carrying his ancestors and whānau with him as he participates in the language's active revitalisation. The drive to learn is also being felt by tauiwi and Pākehā. Rebecca Jerram, a fifth-generation Pākehā and landscape architecture teacher at Unitec, has been studying the language for over five years. She views the relationship between Māori and Pākehā as a partnership that requires active engagement. Jerram noted that Māori have been patient and welcoming in opening their world, stating that it is now up to Pākehā to reciprocate that manaaki. International arrivals are also joining the movement. Argentinian learner Facu Cuello, who moved to Aotearoa three years ago, considers learning te reo a fundamental responsibility for anyone living in the country. He believes that honouring the native language offers a deeper meaning to the experience of the land, helping to ensure te reo remains a living, breathing part of daily life.