Te Reo Māori | The Māori language
Te Reo Māori, the Māori language, is the indigenous language of Aotearoa, New Zealand and the traditional language of the indigenous Māori people.
Ko tōku reo tōku ohooho, ko tōku reo tōku mapihi maurea. My language is my awakening, my language is the window to my soul. This whakatauki (proverb) illustrates the importance and significance of te reo Māori to Māori people.
Aotearoa, New Zealand has two official languages: te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, while English is a de facto language. Te reo Māori became an official language with the passing of the Māori Language Act 1987 and has guaranteed protection as a taonga (treasure) under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te reo Māori provides a unique language identity for our country within the world and holds significance with many indigenous people worldwide.
* Source: T. Kāretu, J. Waite, Te Reo Māori, Department of Statistics, New Zealand Official Yearbook 1988-1989, pp 217-227. (93rd Ed.), Wellington, 1988