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Tuesday 30 July 2019 9:53pm

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A second print run of the University's 150 Tau, 150 Kupu cards is underway, thanks to an incredible response from staff.

As the second print run of the ‘150 Tau, 150 Kupu’ is about to roll out from UniPrint, we asked Claire Porima, from the Office of Māori Development, for her reaction to the response to the cards.

“Tumeke! I’m both astounded and delighted. I’m getting comments and calls from people telling me how they are using the card set, wanting them for their department, for other staff or for gifts to take to conferences and so forth.”

The popularity of the cards inspired a the second print run, and the cards also inspired Anaru Eketone to create a game – Kupa Uka. Watch the video below, to see how it is played, and see the end of this story for the rules.

Ms Porima tells us more about the cards.

“The idea came from Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne to have 150 Māori words for the 150th year, but she probably didn’t realise that as soon as she made the proposal, my creative side kicked in and a list of words on a piece of paper was never going to be good enough - for me at least.

“The design idea came from my experiences with my own Ira Inspirational Cards business which has as its kaupapa to contribute to one million users of Te Reo by 2040. I had also supported the Otago Boys' High School Year 13 lads last year when they produced a deck of playing cards in te reo called Kuranga Cards for the Young Enterprise Scheme, so her idea was a natural extension of both these business initiatives. I really saw Professor Hayne’s suggestion as a golden opportunity to present and promote te reo Māori use at the University in a way that everyone could relate to.

“University staff have a deep willingness and desire to learn Māori, but everyone learns in a different way, and getting to evening classes is not always an option. So the compendium of 150 words and phrases in te reo Māori is a simple start and also one that promotes a collegial approach to using them – which is exactly what language is all about: deepening connections and cultural understanding between and amongst people.

“Professor Hayne speaks openly about how she has been encouraged and tutored by te reo speakers to overcome her accent and her monolingual upbringing to learn this beautiful language, and it’s fantastic what she has achieved. In doing so, she says that she has learned more than just a language – te ao Māori opened up for her. I feel incredibly optimistic about where this university is heading and the deepening engagement with te reo, tikanga, and matauranga Māori, and with ngā rūnaka.”

The 150 words and phrases give substance to this University’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, to support professional development and competency in te reo me ngā tikanga. There is a recording of all the words online, so users can check their pronunciation. A list of examples for using the words will be compiled as well.

Ko te reo te taikura o te Ao Māori

Language is the key to understanding the Māori worldview

Claire works part-time at OMD as Manager, Māori Research Consultation and Senior Project Manager. Outside the University, Claire runs her own Executive and Life Coaching business.

Like a set of cards?

If you work at the University of Otago and are interested in a set of cards, please click the link to be taken through to the order form.

Kupa Uka game rules:

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The game's creator, Anaru Eketone.

Deal five cards to each player.

The player to the left of the dealer goes first. They look for the person who might not know the answer to one of their words, they say the word in Māori to that player. If player two correctly translates the word they win the card and place it down in front of them.

If they get it wrong the player who asks wins the card*.

Play moves to the next player until all the cards have been handed out to players. The person with the most cards in front of them wins!

*If player two gets the word wrong because player one mispronounced it – player two wins the card

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