Language
Tokelauan: a language in danger
Tokelauan is on UNESCO'S list of the world's severely endangered languages, how can it be safeguarded? University of Auckland PhD student, John Middleton's thesis is based on the syntax of Tokelauan… Audio
Study will look at how NZ accent changes
The Panel speaks to University of Canterbury linguist and senior lecturer Dr Lynn Clark who is leading the research. Audio
Councillor disgusted by comments over reo Māori karakia at Grey Power meeting
A councillor will take a complaint to the Race Relations Commissioner after his use of the Māori language to perform a karakia at a Grey Power meeting was labelled an "insult".
Number of teens studying Māori at high school passes 30,000
The number of teenagers studying te reo Māori at secondary school has passed 30,000 for the first time.
That's from fresh Education Ministry figures that show enrolment in international languages is… Audio
Why 'Māoriland' fell out of fashion
Victoria University professor Jane Stafford has studied the history of its usage in early New Zealand literature. Audio
Kiwi adults know more te reo than they realise
Even those who can't speak te reo Māori know more than they think, according to new research from the University of Canterbury. Principal Investigator Professor Jen Hay speaks to Emile about their… Audio
Duolingo’s te reo Māori course release pushed back
Like many other things, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a impact on Duolingo's planned release of a te reo Māori course by the end of 2020.
Calling Home: Megan Rae in Venice
Megan Rae lives a life many people on the planet can only dream of. She has a PhD in linguistics and runs a school at one of just two Italian universities specialising in languages, Ca'foscari… Audio, Gallery
Bula Vinaka Southland! Invercargill's Fiji language school opens
How would you say hello in Invercargill?
Thanks to a new Fijian language school, bula vinaka may soon be a common greeting in the south.
Our Otago-Southland reporter, Timothy Brown, went along for a… Video, Audio
Australian national anthem sung in indigenous language
A 17-year-old has made history in Australia by being the first person to sing the national anthem in an indigenous Australian language at an international sporting event.
Olivia Fox, who is… Audio
Auckland park first to get bilingual signage in effort to celebrate te reo Māori
West Auckland's Crum Park has had its name of Tahurangi Park reinstated, in a bid to normalise te reo Māori place names across the Auckland region.
Supreme Māori Language award
The Supreme MÄori Language Award this year, goes to the one million people who took part in the biggest MÄori language event in history - during Te Wiki o te reo MÄori. The commission's MÄori Language… Audio
Oxford's Words of the Year include Covid-19, lockdown and Black Lives Matter
The Oxford English Dictionary usually chooses a Word of the Year to capture the spirit of the past 12 months, but in 2020 one word was not enough. Audio
Can dogs learn language?
Shany Dror is a PhD student based in Hungary and the driving force behind the Genius Dog Challenge. Audio
Why imitation is the cornerstone of speech development
Speech and language therapist Christian Wright talks about the cornerstone of language development: imitation. Audio
The art of the Irish accent
Ever been to the movies and been distracted by an actor attempting to do an accent that doesn't quite ring true? Audio
Reservations over Education Ministry's hopes for more te reo
A te reo Māori academic says he has reservations that educators will adequately incorporate te reo and tikanga into their everyday lessons..
The Education Minister, Chris Hipkins, this morning… Audio
The Leap of Faith To Save a Language
Forty years ago the Māori language was on the brink of dying out. Only 5% of Māori spoke it fluently. A massive push to save it was underway and at the heart of that movement was a little school at… Audio
Live performances at Mīharo Polyfest draw crowds
Organisers have overcome the Covid-19 pandemic to stage the 11th year of the Mīharo Polyfest, formally known as Murihiku Polyfest.
Value of te reo Māori for all 'is what will save it' - Justice Joe Williams
The te reo Māori Waitangi Tribunal claim in the 1980s should have been about the "value of the reo for all," Justice Joe Williams, who was on the legal team for the landmark case, says.
