Language
Why 'Māoriland' fell out of fashion
Victoria University professor Jane Stafford has studied the history of its usage in early New Zealand literature. Audio
Kiwi adults know more te reo than they realise
Even those who can't speak te reo Māori know more than they think, according to new research from the University of Canterbury. Principal Investigator Professor Jen Hay speaks to Emile about their… Audio
Duolingo’s te reo Māori course release pushed back
Like many other things, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a impact on Duolingo's planned release of a te reo Māori course by the end of 2020.
Calling Home: Megan Rae in Venice
Megan Rae lives a life many people on the planet can only dream of. She has a PhD in linguistics and runs a school at one of just two Italian universities specialising in languages, Ca'foscari… Audio, Gallery
Bula Vinaka Southland! Invercargill's Fiji language school opens
How would you say hello in Invercargill?
Thanks to a new Fijian language school, bula vinaka may soon be a common greeting in the south.
Our Otago-Southland reporter, Timothy Brown, went along for a… Video, Audio
Australian national anthem sung in indigenous language
A 17-year-old has made history in Australia by being the first person to sing the national anthem in an indigenous Australian language at an international sporting event.
Olivia Fox, who is… Audio
Auckland park first to get bilingual signage in effort to celebrate te reo Māori
West Auckland's Crum Park has had its name of Tahurangi Park reinstated, in a bid to normalise te reo Māori place names across the Auckland region.
Supreme Māori Language award
The Supreme MÄori Language Award this year, goes to the one million people who took part in the biggest MÄori language event in history - during Te Wiki o te reo MÄori. The commission's MÄori Language… Audio
Oxford's Words of the Year include Covid-19, lockdown and Black Lives Matter
The Oxford English Dictionary usually chooses a Word of the Year to capture the spirit of the past 12 months, but in 2020 one word was not enough. Audio
Can dogs learn language?
Shany Dror is a PhD student based in Hungary and the driving force behind the Genius Dog Challenge. Audio
Why imitation is the cornerstone of speech development
Speech and language therapist Christian Wright talks about the cornerstone of language development: imitation. Audio
The art of the Irish accent
Ever been to the movies and been distracted by an actor attempting to do an accent that doesn't quite ring true? Audio
Reservations over Education Ministry's hopes for more te reo
A te reo Māori academic says he has reservations that educators will adequately incorporate te reo and tikanga into their everyday lessons..
The Education Minister, Chris Hipkins, this morning… Audio
The Leap of Faith To Save a Language
Forty years ago the Māori language was on the brink of dying out. Only 5% of Māori spoke it fluently. A massive push to save it was underway and at the heart of that movement was a little school at… Audio
Live performances at Mīharo Polyfest draw crowds
Organisers have overcome the Covid-19 pandemic to stage the 11th year of the Mīharo Polyfest, formally known as Murihiku Polyfest.
Value of te reo Māori for all 'is what will save it' - Justice Joe Williams
The te reo Māori Waitangi Tribunal claim in the 1980s should have been about the "value of the reo for all," Justice Joe Williams, who was on the legal team for the landmark case, says.
Tokelauan community in NZ works to keep language alive
Ensuring the survival of their language for future generations is why the Tokelaun community in Porirua are keen to have their language included in the New Zealand curriculum. Audio
Concerning language skills of new entrants
New research has found many children starting primary school are not able to speak properly, some with the language skills of toddlers. In fact, up to two thirds of new entrants in schools that were… Audio
Research shows bilingual mums have better mental health
It's been discovered that being both fluent in English and a Pacific language helps protect the mental well-being of new Pacific mums. Audio
The future of Tokelauan: Is it at risk?
More Tokelauans reside in New Zealand than on the tiny pacific atolls. What does this mean for the future of the language? Audio
