Māori Language Week – Sep. 14, 2026

Expected Māori Language Week Deals

Māori Language Week focuses on cultural revitalization and education rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the Māori Language Commission (Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori) often partner with educational institutions and community groups to host free language classes, cultural workshops, and public events. Look for special programs at libraries, museums, and community centers across New Zealand. Bookstores may highlight resources for learning Te Reo Māori, while some local businesses might offer special promotions or host events that incorporate Māori language and culture. We encourage direct support for language initiatives and cultural preservation efforts during this important week.

History of Māori Language Week

In the early 1970s, it became clear that very few people in New Zealand could speak Māori. Many people were concerned about the state of decline and signed a petition for the Māori Language, which was organized by the Te Reo Maori Society. ‘Aotearoa’ is Māori for ‘New Zealand.’

The petition was signed by approximately 30,000 people and was presented to the parliament on September 14, 1972. This day became recognized as Māori Language Day in the year 1975 and was responsible for the formation of Maori Language Week.

In 2008, Google Māori — a Māori-language version of the popular search engine — was launched to celebrate Māori Language Week. Google and the Māori Language Commission were collaborators on the project which lasted about a year. The complexity of translating technical terms meant over 40 people were involved in making it a reality.

New Zealand’s national cricket team, the Black Caps, played their first match under the name ‘Aotearoa’ to mark Māori Language Week in 2015. Disney’s 2016 film “Moana” was translated into Māori and premiered in Auckland as part of the 2017 celebration.

Original cast members in the English version of the film, such as Oscar Kightley, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, and Temuera Morrison, reprised their roles in the Māori version. During Māori Language week, over 30 theaters in the country allowed free screenings of the new version.

In 2021, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori was marked with a special event. On September 14, more than 1.1 million people set out to speak Māori at the same time. The event is called ‘Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori’ (the Māori Language Moment). The Māori Party started a petition to adopt Aotearoa as the official name of the country on the same day.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Māori Language Week