Story: Te reo Māori – the Māori language

Māori leaders assemble at the Tū Tāngata Wānanga Whakatauira, held in the legislative chambers at Parliament in July 1981. The event was organised by the Māori Affairs Department under the leadership of Kara Puketapu. The tū tāngata (stance of the people) philosophy sought to promote the success of Māori as a proud people who stood tall within their culture. One of the most important initiatives to come out of Tū Tāngata was the kōhanga reo (language-learning nest) movement.