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MÄORI LANGUAGE WEEKWete Reo! Arohatia te Reo!Left to right: Wairangi Koopu, Bella Kalolo, Tamati Ellison. Photo courtesy of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Mäori.Tamati Ellison, Wairangi Koopu and BellaKalolo are all lending their voices to getmore people excited about te reo Mäori.Tamati (Ngäi Tahu, Te Ätiawa, Ngäti Whakaue,Te Arawa, Ngäti Porou, Ngäti Raukawa) says,“I think there are a lot of speakers like methat don’t get to speak that often, but arestill passionate about the language. Beinginvolved in the Mäori Language Week 2012campaign it is a way for me to express mycommitment to te reo, and it also keeps mearound te reo Mäori. It is really important tome that we teach our kids”.This is his second year running wherehe’s featured in Mäori Language Weekpromotions. His own reo journey startedat home before joining a bilingual unit atPorirua Primary School. He credits his lovefor the reo to two influential teachers, RuiaAperahama and Dean Umu and his parents,who were also learning te reo while Tamatiwas at school.Bella Kalolo (Ngäti Porou, Samoan, Tongan)is an accomplished composer and vocalistwho took out the award for the Best PacificFemale Vocalist recently. Bella is the leadvocalist in this year’s Theme Song.Being involved in Mäori Language Week, Bellasays, “It is so awesome. It is great to know thatI can participate and also give back too. Asour generations grow, we need to incorporateMäori language in everyday living”.Like Tamati, Bella’s enthusiasm for te reoMäori was created at home and schoolwhere she first learnt Mäori greetings andnumbers. Samoan was the language spokenat home and once her mother became fluentin te reo Mäori, she’d speak to Bella in Mäoriin front of Samoan people and Samoan infront of Mäori people.Tripartite partners Te Taura Whiri i te ReoMäori, Te Kähui Tika Tangata (Human RightsCommission) and Te Puni Kökiri are proud tobe associated with another successful MäoriLanguage Week.“Having Tamati, Wairangi and Bella frontthe ‘Arohatia te Reo’ campaign helpsto keep our reo alive and makes it moreexciting for our tamariki mokopuna too,”says Te Puni Kökiri Deputy Chief ExecutiveHerewini Te Koha. “Bella can sing! AndWairangi and Tamati talking ‘the languageof love’ and going shopping for lingerie ishard case. Ka wani kë!”.For the series of four TV advertisementsfeaturing Tamati and Wairangi, or to hearBella Kalolo sing the theme song go towww.koreromaori.co.nz/news/mlwor Taura Whiri FaceBook page.12TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | KÖANGA / SPRING 2012