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“He Ao, he Ao, he Aotearoa…”
These are the words cried out by Kuramarotini (also know as Hine te aparangi), wife of Kupe (the great navigator), after first sighting a cloud covered Aotearoa.
As we conclude Mahuru Māori, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are encouraging individuals and organisations to keep up the good mahi! After seeing the overwhelming response from the people of Aotearoa during Te wiki o te reo Māori and Mahuru Māori, we are now leading an OHA that invites one and all to individually and collectively use the word ‘Aotearoa’. Register now!
Going forward, we, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, will refer only to ‘Aotearoa’. We will replace the word ‘New Zealand’ with ‘Aotearoa’.
This is our OHA to Aotearoa, as we continue on our haerenga (journey) of embracing te reo Māori. We have set some big goals within our hapū and we are calling out to the rest of Aotearoa to join us on our haerenga.
Oha mai, toha atu
The word OHA can be described as a gift, in abundance and generosity.
We are asking Aotearoa to use the gift of te reo Māori, and be generous with it to spread it near and far.
Beginning with one word – Aotearoa.
We at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei strongly believe that the time has come for Aotearoa to fully embrace te reo Māori. It will be a long journey but we feel the people of Aotearoa are ready. We’ve thought about how we can help lead that change. Calling all individuals, cities, towns, schools, businesses and groups to join us.
This is just one easy way to get involved and exactly what the purpose of the initiative is about. Taking that first step to embracing our beautiful language and culture. A language journey can begin with just one word.
We do not need legislation, a week or a month to further embrace te reo Māori and we know many others feel the same. So what are we waiting for Aotearoa? Hoake tātou.
It may take baby steps, at first our changes might seem small, but our efforts will be greatly sustained. You may start by saying ‘Aotearoa New Zealand’ and work towards dropping New Zealand, or you may want to commit 100% by referring only to ‘Aotearoa’. Kei a koe te tikanga, it’s up to you! But we will support you and your efforts pau te kaha.
Register yourself or group now! Join the Oha team, join the Aotearoa team.
Toha atu, share it far and wide. Tag us at #ohaaotearoa
Check out our ‘How to say AOTEAROA 101’ brought you to by our very own Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei teacher Rawinia. Get rolling those rrrrrrrs Aotearoa!
Mangopare.
The Mangopare is at the heart of our design. It depicts the Hammerhead shark and represents determination and strength.
Once registered, you‘ll receive an email with access to:
- Official Oha tohu
- Extra te reo resources
- Oha certificate (check them out below)
You will also be asked for permission to share your name on this webpage as an Oha Aotearoa participant.
Oha Aotearoa - Thank you for joining us on this journey.
Individual
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Collective/Group/Business
- Vodafone Aotearoa
- DDB Group
- Splore Festival
- Mad Ave Community Trust
- RISE2025 Aotearoa
- Ngā Wātene Māori o Akarana
- Moihi Purangi Whānau
- Tanya Cumberland and Whānau
- Adrenalin Group
- Ngā Tauira Māori
- Fly NZ
- Brightly
- Te Whānau o Kanivatoa
- Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa
- Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition
Sharing the arOHA
“The adoption of Aotearoa as our defining name is a thoughtful and deeply sensitive proposal and campaign. You are to be, unequivocally, congratulated. For the record, I am an-almost-70-year-old-grumpy-male-Pakeha. For all those shortcomings, I still recognise the importance of defining ourselves in terms of our indigenous cultural histories, of Māoritanga; it engenders both pride and identity.”
“When travelling overseas I fill my departure and arrival cards, both here in Aotearoa, NZ & overseas, using; Country of Origin: Aotearoa, NZ and Ethnicity: Maori. I have never been stopped and made to change anything. We’ve done it for years.”
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