“I dream of an Aotearoa where te reo Māori is part of everyday life for all of us. For the over one million people who are already on the journey, you all inspire me. For the four million not quite there yet, I invite you to join us.”
— Kylie Reiri, Piki te Reo
“Te reo Māori is my real superpower.”
— Sonny Ngatai, Foreword, Piki te Reo
What is it about?
Piki te Reo is a warm, practical handbook for whānau who want to raise their tamariki with te reo Māori. Whether you’re just starting out or deepening your connection with the language, this book offers easy-to-follow plans, fun activities, inspiring whānau stories, and straightforward strategies to bring te reo Māori into your everyday life.
About the Book
Piki te Reo is for everyone, no matter where you are on your learning journey. Whether you’ve spoken te reo Māori all your life or you’re just thinking about starting, you’re welcome here. The aim of this book is not to teach you te reo Māori. Instead, it’s a guide to bringing a new language into the lives of your tamariki.
What the book covers
-
Te reo Māori in Aotearoa:
where we have come from and where we are going -
Where to learn te reo Māori:
kura, kōhanga, adult learning options -
Language planning:
how to bring te reo Māori into your everyday home -
Language learning strategies:
practical tools for busy whānau -
Games in te reo Māori:
fun activities for tamariki of all ages -
Daily activities:
scripts for getting dressed, reading, kura drop-off, and more -
Whānau stories:
real journeys from families across Aotearoa
“The commitment you are making, even when it feels scary or uncertain, is one that will benefit your tamariki for the rest of their lives.”
— Sonny Ngatai, Foreword, Piki te Reo
“Take care of our children. Take care of what they hear. Take care of what they see. For how the children grow, so will the shape of Aotearoa.”
— Dame Whina Cooper
About the Author
Kylie Reiri
Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu, Rangītāne
Kia ora, I’m Kylie Reiri, an author, mother of three, and te reo Māori learner. I started learning te reo Māori when I was expecting my first pēpi, and over the past seven years our whole whānau has made it part of our daily life. Piki te Reo grew out of that journey, everything we’ve learned about bringing a new language into a busy family home. I wrote it for every parent, grandparent, aunty, and uncle who wants to give their tamariki this precious gift, wherever they are on their own te reo Māori journey.
“It takes a generation to get your te reo back. Start the seed growing now, and by the time it gets to your mokopuna, they’ll be flourishing.”
— Phil, Kauika Whānau Story