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Te Reo Rangatira Introduction

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Te Reo Rangatira Introduction

Read the short text, then complete each activity. Use evidence from the text where asked. Te reo Māori examples include macrons: take care to include them.

Language, identity and welcome

Te reo Māori is a living language and a taonga tuku iho—a valued cultural legacy connecting generations. It carries knowledge, histories, humour and ways of understanding relationships with people and whenua. For many Māori, using te reo can strengthen connections to whānau, hapū, iwi and tūpuna. It is also one of the official languages of Aotearoa New Zealand. A greeting is more than a set of translated words: its form depends on who is being addressed and the situation. “Tēnā koe” addresses one person; “Tēnā kōrua” addresses two; and “Tēnā koutou” addresses three or more. “Kia ora” is a widely used greeting and expression of thanks or acknowledgement. In a formal setting, a speaker may open with a mihi to acknowledge the people gathered and establish relationships. The words chosen, and the care with which they are spoken, both matter.

Read closely

1.In the passage, what does taonga tuku iho mean?

A greeting used at a formal gathering
A treasured inheritance passed down through generations
A written record of a family history
A language spoken only by tūpuna

2.According to the passage, name two kinds of knowledge or experience carried by te reo Māori.

3.Complete the greeting guide: “Tēnā koe” addresses person; “Tēnā kōrua” addresses people; “Tēnā koutou” addresses .

4.Match each greeting to the number of people it addresses, as described in the passage.

Tēnā koe
Tēnā kōrua
Tēnā koutou

Three or more people
One person
Two people

5.True or false? The passage says “Kia ora” can be used only as a greeting, never as thanks or acknowledgement.

TrueFalse

6.A student is welcoming four visitors. Which greeting from the passage is the best fit, and why?

7.The passage says that a greeting is more than translated words. Explain one reason why the situation or relationship between speakers can matter when choosing a greeting.

8.The passage identifies te reo Māori as one of the official languages of Aotearoa New Zealand. Give one other idea from the passage that explains why the language is significant to people and communities.

Use the ideas

9.Write a brief welcome for a formal gathering of three or more visitors. Include one greeting from the passage and one sentence explaining how your welcome acknowledges the people present. You may write in English or te reo Māori.

10.Suggest one practical way a school or community group could help keep te reo Māori in everyday use. Explain how your suggestion could support people to learn or use the language respectfully.