Day 14 of #100daysofpractice
I saw one of the new resources for Te Wiki o te reo Māori today - they look fantastic! We are so lucky to have such amazing language resources to share.
'Ko tōu reo, ko tōku reo, te tuakiri tangata. Tīhei uriuri, tīhei nakonako'
(Your voice and my voice are expressions of identity. May our descendants live on and our hopes be fulfilled.)
Rongo practice for today…
Day 15 of #100daysofpractice
Seeing as it’s on - let’s talk rugby! 🏉
Resource from Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori.
Kia kaha te Kapa Ō Pango! Go hard All Blacks!
Day 16 of #100DaysOfPractice
More sports related talk today - the league is on (I think it’s the Warriors vs Newcastle). Here’s a few things to shout at the screen if you’re practicing, or just that way inclined…
Day 17 of #100DaysOfPractice
Not much speaking practice today, but there was some singing! A few new waiata as welll as a couple of classics, including the unofficial anthem Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi.
Check out our favourite NZ folk songs at the link: https://www.folksong.org.nz/tutira_mai_nga_iwi/index.html
NZ Folk Song * Tutira Mai Nga Iwi

'Tutira Mai Nga Iwi' calls for all groups of people to stand together.

Day 18 & 19 of #100DaysOfPractice
One of my colleagues is joining me in my mission to kōrero Māori ia rā, ia rā! We have been making small talk over the last few days and I had to mention that I’d made it a goal to practice daily - they are happy to help!
They have a cute pin (in pink!) on their lanyard and I must admit I’m a smidge jealous!
Day 20 of #100DaysOfPractice
My colleague conversations have made me realise I rush through my sentences, and they are often asking me to repeat, “anō?”
Speaking a second language to another language-learner, we are both self-conscious but making the effort. I’ve gone back to Rongo app with a focus on clear and careful pronunciation - I have narrowed it down to several common sounds that I am clipping short, so working specifically on them here.
Day 21 of #100DaysOfPractice
Struggling with a sore throat today. Rongo app asking me to repeat words that it can’t hear properly. Difficult to work on clear delivery under the circumstances! Hopefully it will clear up soon and I’ll be back in action. A good phrase list for birders today 🦆
Day 22 of #100DaysOfPractice
Kapa Haka day today - I was very quiet but it still counts, right?! It was actually great to be drowned out by the tamariki 😊
Here’s a video of one of our regular pieces:
Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/399cwyiGAsY
WAIATA Ā-RIKA: Te taukaea aroha

YouTube
Day 23 of #100DaysOfPractice
I got a real kick out of planning some language inclusion into my upcoming presentation. I’m upskilling my colleagues on enriched science teaching, and have rather gracefully included some language learning as part of it. I am looking forward to presenting this and getting everyone involved 😎 Kia kaha te reo Māori!
Day 24 of #100DaysOfPractice
Practising my best fluent storytelling voice! ☺️
Day 25 of #100DaysOfPractice
I read the other story about Kea and Kiwi from this journal but have decided to share The Miracle Goose with you all - it’s a version of the goose with the golden eggs story. I just like the picture of the goose 🪿
Day 26 of #100DaysOfPractice
Practice on Rongo app today. One of these phrases was difficult for me - you know the app has given up on correcting you when it moves to the next one with no comment (usually there’s a little ‘tino pai’ to let you know how fabulous you are). Im not telling which one! Hopefully I won’t need those words in that particular order any time soon 😅
Day 27 of #100DaysOfPractice
Coffee at the favourite spot today! Favourite because of where it is and the wonderful people who own it - but also because they promote ordering your coffee in both te reo Māori and NZSL. Just perfect for me to practice, and for my BFF who signs!
This is something the cafe do year round but they also have coffee discounts to encourage use during each language week. Ka rawe! 🤩
Day 28 of #100DaysOfPractice
Part one of an adorable short story today. As I’m reading aloud I’m concentrating on clear pronunciation and fluent phrasing. I’ve also realised there is always a sentence or two that I like the sound of. I find myself using these in other contexts, just for fun, including when I’m talking to my dog 😄
Day 29 of #100DaysOfPractice
In which we find out more about the predicament of our Nanenane who was swept out to sea. Look at those giant seahorses! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s exciting conclusion 😄
Day 30 of #100DaysOfPractice
The heart-warming conclusion to our nanny goat adventure - whales helping out other creatures in trouble… Seems legit 🐋 🐐
Day 31 of #100DaysOfPractice
Getting reading for Mahuru Măori and the 50th Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori! Here’s a link for getting resources from Te Taura Whiri I te reo Māori: https://www.reomaori.co.nz/give_te_reo_a_go_beginner_resources
Day 32 of #100DaysOfPractice
Lots of language and cultural immersion today - I am so lucky to be a part of such a supportive and passionate network!
Today we were exploring Te Kuru wetlands (wow!) with the stormwater team. Absolutely brilliant day with wonderful people. Here are some outstanding resources from WaterNZ to get the conversation flowing (pun!)
“He puna wai, he puna kai, he puna reo, he puna ora, ita-a-ita”
https://www.waternz.org.nz/rauemi
Day 33 of #100DaysOfPractice
A mixed bag of phrases on Rongo app today - it is still picking up on my shortened syllables but my journal story reading is paying off!
I can hear myself putting on ‘newsreader-voice’ to get the pronunciation spot on. This is incredibly helpful in the long term, after it becomes automatic of course.
Day 34 of #100DaysOfPractice
Today’s journal story was challenging! Not because of the words or their pronunciation, but because this story, written for 8-10 year olds, is about nixtamalization, a traditional way of preparing corn by steeping it with ashes! Absolutely fascinating, but it definitely had me questioning my interpretation to begin with 🌽
Day 35 of #100DaysOfPractice
This morning we had a great presentation from Jay - a founder of E Tū Tāngata and all round wonderful person. A great message. Here’s the theme song:
https://youtu.be/7yoKTI2Q8D0
E Tū Tāngata - Stand Together | Winner of APRA NZ Best Children's Song 2022

YouTube
Day 36 of #100DaysOfPractice
I have a soft spot for any native bird story that begins, “I ngā wā ō mua” which I always think of as ‘in the times before’ 🦅 these birds definitely have enduring personality traits 😄
Day 37 of #100DaysOfPractice
Kiwi just can’t understand why Kea won’t eat the delicious food being offered… Kiwi thinks they are being a great host… 🦅
Oh no my post from yesterday isn’t here?!😟
Day 38 (take 2) of #100DaysOfPractice
Apologies if it now appears twice?!
Children's stories cover almost all the major sentence structures and give a broad range of vocabulary. And the art is also lovely. 🦅
Day 39 of #100DaysOfPractice
I haven’t read this particular version of this story before. Kupe is pretty well known around these parts though 😉
Day 40 of #100DaysOfPractice
Having te reo Māori in school books is very topical this week. Here’s one with more than six words. If you know, you know 😉
Day 41 of #100DaysOfPractice
Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori social media on fire 🔥
My Star Wars-loving colleague and I were in fits today using these in the classroom 😄
Day 42 of #100DaysOfPractice
Really thought I was smashing this today, but some sloppy pronunciation still got me!
For those people that can hear the difference between there, their and they’re; or bare, bear and beer; or even hare, here and hair… it really is at that level nuance. Fine tuning vowels.
Day 43 of #100DaysOfPractice
Social media treasures! Look.How.Good! 🔥
Day 44 of #100DaysOfPractice
All this focusing on the minutiae of enunciation and now I can actually feel the tiny movements of my face as I am correcting myself to clearer and more well-formed vowels! Like a workout but in miniature. 💪🏼 More obvious in common words that I had become lazy with over time.
Day 45 of #100DaysOfPractice
I had a lovely comment from some colleagues last week about my reo - how lovely it sounded - feeling good about that and it does add a bit of confidence to speak more readily next time. Setting up for a strong week ahead:
Day 47 of #100DaysOfPractice
More sweet resources from the Te Wiki o te reo Māori team! Always good to pronounce place names correctly 😊 Have a go at home!
Day 48 of #100DaysOfPractice
You know I love my Rongo app practice. Feeling the brain cells rubbing together with these phrases today. Remembering to keep it clear and calm, not rushing through it. I made my colleagues practice yesterday too at staff meeting - they were thrilled to have a go 😎
Day 49 of #100DaysOfPractice
All this daily language practice has improved my singing voice immensely! Noticeable uptick in volume and clarity. I am shooketh!
Day 50 of #100DaysOfPractice
A special celebration for making it halfway - here’s a love song 🎶 Aroha Mai by Rei
#JukeboxFridayNight
#lovesongs
https://youtu.be/x1c2BJoxVDw
Rei - Aroha Mai (Official Music Video)

YouTube
Day 51 of #100DaysOfPractice
The countdown to Te Wiki O te Reo Māori is on and pulling out all stops. Quality content! 🔥
Day 52 of #100DaysOfPractice
I think that if I get the intonation just right, these won’t need any explaining… let’s find out when I try them on my unsuspecting colleagues tomorrow! 😆
Day 53 of #100DaysOfPractice
Monday is kapa haka day - this is one of our current numbers. Absolutely glorious!
https://youtu.be/1b42DapzSWY
He kākano Ahau

YouTube
Day 54 of #100DaysOfPractice
We’re heading to our local marae for a field trip tomorrow, so I am practicing my mihimihi, a short speech to introduce myself. 😊 Here’s a template if you’d like to try your own!
@akoaroha tēnā rawa atu koe!