Te Aho Arataki Marau mō te Ako i Te Reo Māori - Kura Auraki
Curriculum Guidelines for Teaching and Learning Te Reo Māori in English-medium Schools: Years 1-13
Curriculum guidelines 521 PDF (PDF, 4 MB)
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Ngā reo ā-iwi
Regional dialects
Minor variations in the reo used by different rohe exist. The greatest variations are in pronunciation and vocabulary; variations in grammar are relatively minor.
These variations are partly due to the different village or island origins of the original settlers, but some of them may have arisen because of the relative isolation of local populations after they settled in Aotearoa.
Because these language variations are are insignificant enough, they do not interfere with communication. This means teachers can feel confident that using your familiar-dialect will provide their students with a solid foundation for learning te reo Māori.
However, there are good reasons for you – the teachers – to learn about the dialect that is most used in the local community. Highlighting some of the language variations in class increases students’ language awareness. You can also support those students who are learning a dialect at school that differs from the one they use in their homes.
As the class learns about local variations, you increase your own knowledge and expertise. As a result, you can engage in more meaningful ways with Māori students’, whānau, and communities.
