Cook Islands Language Week 2017
e epetoma o te reo Māori Kuki Airani – Happy Cook Islands Language Week!
This year’s theme is Ei rāvenga nāku i te tuatua i tōku reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani ka anoano au i te turuturu ā tōku ngutu`are tangata `ē te matakeinanga – an encouraging home and community environment is what I need to build my love and my confidence to speak my reo Māori Kūki ’Āirani.
AUT honours our Pacific Language Weeks by addressing issues that are important to Pacific communities, both here in New Zealand and in the Pacific Islands.
The Office of Pacific Advancement at AUT has aligned each Pacific Language Week with one of 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.
For Cook Islands Language Week, our staff and students share their thoughts on SDG #14: Life Below Water – to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Ka 'akapē'ea tātou e ‘akapapapapa kia tau mako tikāi te moana nō te au ꞌuke e āru mai? – What can we do today to prepare for the future sustainability of our ocean?
Click here to watch the video.
Pacific Language Weeks are celebrated at AUT each year as an opportunity to acknowledge the diverse Pacific cultures at our university.
In New Zealand, 62,000 people identify as being of Cook Island descent. However, less than 13 percent of New Zealand born Cook Islanders speak te reo Māori Kūki ’Āirani.
We all have a part to play in keeping Pacific languages alive, even if it’s just learning a few phrases or a song.
Hello – Kia orana
Welcome – Turou (or) Aere mai
Goodbye – Kia manuia
Please – Ine
Thank you – Meitaki
Good luck – Kia manuia