Skip Content
Mahuru Māori Story

It’s less than a week into Mahuru Māori and it’s already being hailed a success, with unprecedented demand and interest from around the world.

Rākaikahuroa kaimahi spent the last few days of August furiously packing resources to send out to the close to 3000 registered participants while the Mahuru Māori group on Facebook has grown from 1500 members in July to 2300.

The resource packs contain a phrase book of 30 technology terms, journal and cards to tell people they are taking part in the Mahuru Māori challenge. There will also be digital resources on the Mahuru Māori website.

This year Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is working with Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Māori, Te Mātāwai and Te Puni Kōkiri to promote Mahuru Māori and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, which runs from September 10-16.

For Mahuru Māori, participants are challenged to speak only te reo Māori for either one day per week, one week or the entire month of September. It is the brainchild of Poutiaki Reo/Tikanga Paraone Gloyne, who launched the initiative as a social experiment in 2014 with just two participants.

Last year about 600 people registered to take part in Mahuru Māori while this year, 1000 people have taken up the challenge of speaking te reo Māori for the entire month.

Manager Recruitment services Jade Edwards says his team set themselves a target of doubling last year’s registered participants, with ambitions of hitting 2500.

“We’re happy to say we have surpassed those targets. Our whole team is very proud of getting this challenge out to so many people. Mahuru Māori is an initiative whose time has come and we encourage everyone to use te reo wherever they can, no matter what level of fluency you have. He aha tō mahi, kia kitea ai te reo?”

People can still register for Mahuru Māori while language resources can be downloaded from the mahurumaori.com website.

This year Te Wānanga o Aotearoa will also taking part in a te reo Māori challenge involving the online game Fortnite.

New Zealand’s top esports broadcasting organisation, Let’s Play Live, are broadcasting a Fortnite challenge with top gamers, including Twizz from MindFreak, one of the top Australasian esports pro gaming teams.

Reo experts Paraone Gloyne and Patara Berryman from Radio Tainui will be teaching the pro-gamers simple te reo terms that can be used while playing Fortnite.

The event will be streamed live on Twitch.tv/letsplaylive at 8.30pm on September 12.

Fortnite translation resources will be available at mahurumaori.com/fortnite  following the event.

 Back to news & events

Published On:

Article By:



Other Articles

  • 23 May 2025

    Rangatahi return to founding campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

    Rangatahi from Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o Te Aroha and Te Awamutu College return to the founding campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to study mahi toi through the Visual Arts Secondary Tertiary Programme.

  • 20 May 2025

    Marae-Based Research: A Vehicle for Reclamation

    Explore Kimiora Raerino’s inspiring journey from urban Māori upbringing to PhD researcher and Senior Research Fellow at Te Manawahoukura. Discover how marae-based research and māra kai became powerful tools for reconnection, cultural identity, and community wellbeing.

  • 14 May 2025

    A full circle moment from tauira to kaiako

    Explore the inspiring journey of Krystle Nikora, from tauira to kaiako at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Discover how her passion for te reo Māori blossomed and led her to teach He Pī ka Rere Level 3 and 4.

  • 8 May 2025

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study opportunities in their Semester B offerings

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study programmes for Semester B, including Māori Governance, Digital Media and Design, Building and Construction Skills, and Study and Employment Skills. Designed to meet the needs of tauira, whānau, hapū, and iwi, these programmes integrate mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori perspectives. Enrol now to grow your skills and achieve your aspirations.