Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki tēnei atikara.
Whānau from across Te Waipounamu gathered in Ōtautahi to celebrate 25 years of Kōtahi Mano Kāika (KMK), the Kāi Tahu language revitalisation strategy dedicated to strengthening te reo Māori within homes and communities.
Established in 2000, the programme set a goal of having 1,000 Kāi Tahu households speaking te reo Māori by 2025. That milestone, however, has now been surpassed, with around 1,500 whānau engaged in the kaupapa.
Current kaiwhakahaere Paulette Tāmati-Elliffe said the celebration brought together former and current leaders, whānau, and mokopuna who have contributed to the success of the initiative.
Former KMK manager Lynne Harata Te Aika reflected on the programme’s beginnings, when only a small team worked to advance the vision of language revitalisation.
“I taua wā, rua rua noa iho i whakahaere te kaupapa o KMK engari e ngākau nui ana ki te kaupapa,” she said.
Te Aika said one of the most rewarding outcomes has been witnessing the growth of te reo Māori within her own whānau.
“Kua kite au i te tino hua mō taku whānau. Ināianei e toru ngā whakatipuraka e kōrero Māori ana,” she said.
The Hakaria whānau also shared their experiences of raising children through the programme. Whānau member Suayd Hakaria said KMK helped create an environment where te reo Māori could thrive naturally.
As KMK marks its 25th anniversary, organisers hope to see even more homes embracing te reo Māori, ensuring the language continues to flourish for future generations.
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E huihui mai ana ngā whānau huri noa i Te Waipounamu ki roto o Ōtautahi e whakanui ana i te 25 tau o Kōtahi Mano Kāika, te rautaki whakarauora reo Māori ki roto i ngā kāinga me ngā hāpori.
Nō te tau 2000, i tīmata ai te kaupapa me te whāinga o taua wā, kia kōrerohia te 1,000 o ngā kāinga Kāi Tahu i mua i te tau 2025. Inaianei, kua tutuki tērā whāinga, ā, ko tōna 1,500 kua uru atu ki te kaupapa.
E ai ki te kaiwhakahaere a Paulette Tāmati-Elliffe, nā tēnei rā whakanui i whakakōtahi mai ngā whānau me ngā mokopuna kua whai wāhi mai ki te angitūtanga o te kaupapa.
Ka hoki ngā mahara a Lynne Harata Te Aika ki te orokohanga mai o te kaupapa. He tīma iti e whakapau kaha ana ki te tōmua o te whakarauora reo.
“I taua wā, rua rua noa iho i whakahaere te kaupapa o KMK engari e ngākau nui ana ki te kaupapa,” hei tāna.
Ko tā Te Aika, ko tētahi o ngā hua kua puta, ko te kite i te whanake haere o te reo Māori i waenganui i tōna ake whānau.
“Kua kite au i te tino hua mō taku whānau. Ināianei e toru ngā whakatipuraka e kōrero Māori ana,” Hei tāna.
Ko te whānau Hakaria hoki i pāoro i a rātou whēako me te whakatipu tamariki i roto i te kaupapa. Hei tā Suayd Hakaria nā te kaupapa o KMK i whakarewa ai tētahi wāhi kia rere ai ko te reo Māori.
E kainamu mai nei te huritau 25 o KMK, me te manako o ngā kaiwhakarite i te tini me te mano o ngā kāinga e whakamānawa nei i te reo Māori, kia ora ai te reo mō ngā uri, ā muri ake nei.