EIT is to be a showcase for the Māori language next week, with daily activities celebrating and promoting te reo.

EIT’s Māori and Pasifika liaison advisor Lee Kershaw-Karaitiana says the school for Māori studies, Te Ūranga Waka, will be “a vibrant hub” for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, with staff and students mobilising to manage the planned Māori Language Week events.

The on-campus activities, workshops and films screenings, developed in collaboration with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission), are free and open to all.

What’s on:

. Rāhina (Monday), Wānanga Ta Moko from 11.30am to 1pm.  This tattoo workshop centred on traditional and contemporary tools will be led by Jahvan Apatu, a graduate of EIT’s Māori visual arts school Toihoukura, based on the Tairāwhiti campus.

. Rātῡ (Tuesday), Pakirehua.  Organised by third-year Bachelor of Arts (Māori) students, this quiz event will be hosted by Te Kura o Tawhiti at Te Ūranga Waka from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

. Rāapa (Wednesday).  Te kaikauhau taura Lee Smith from Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori will be delivering his discourse between 12.30-1.30pm in EIT’s Te Whare mātoro.  Traditional kai and waiata (food and music) will be available on EIT’s Oval Courtyard between midday and 1pm.

Rapare (Thursday). The sporting minded will be able to take part in and learn about hākinakina on Te Ūranga Waka’s quad between 12pm and 1pm.

Rāmere (Friday) features te wāhanga kiriata poto (a short film session). The five films to be screened in EIT’s Lecture Theatre 1 between midday and 1pm feature Māori themes, characters and/or are the work of Maori producers.