Ambitious new plan for te reo Māori at University
25 March 2026
AI tools, a refreshed language app and a new dictionary are all helping shape the next chapter of te reo Māori revitalisation at the University of Auckland.
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has launched a bold new strategy to enhance the use of te reo Māori across the institution and help shape the language’s future.
He Makau Mauroa is the University’s Te Reo Māori Strategy for 2026–2030, building on the success of its inaugural language plan that ran from 2020 to 2025. It’s a renewed commitment to normalising te reo Māori across teaching, research and campus life.
The University’s first language plan saw thousands of staff and students engage in te reo Māori learning opportunities, strengthening confidence and supporting both Māori and non-Māori researchers to embed the language more frequently across teaching, research and everyday university life.
The next phase aims to go further – expanding Māori-medium education, strengthening partnerships with Māori language communities, and supporting new research that advances language revitalisation.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori Professor Te Kawehau Hoskins (Ngāti Hau, Ngāpuhi) says the strategy reflects the central role language plays in Māori identity.
“Ko te reo te manawapou o te tuakiri Māori – the language is the lifeblood that fosters Māori identity.”
Kaiarataki Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori Michael Steedman (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, Te Uri o Hau) says the plan reflects a growing commitment across the University to actively support the revitalisation of te reo Māori.
“We gave the next phase of the plan the name He Makau Mauroa, meaning ‘a closely held friend’. It reflects the enduring relationship people have built with te reo Māori and the important role the language plays in their lives,” he says.
“That vision continues the ethos of the first plan: ‘Te taonga nō tuawhakarere, he taonga mō āpōpō’ – a treasure from ancient times and for tomorrow.”
Among the initiatives outlined in the strategy are new opportunities for staff and students to learn and use te reo Māori, including the development of courses taught in te reo Māori and expanded pathways for students to submit coursework and postgraduate research in te reo Māori.
The plan also focuses on strengthening relationships with iwi, hapū and Māori language experts, recognising that revitalisation efforts must remain grounded in the communities who carry the language.
Across campus, the strategy aims to further normalise the everyday presence of te reo Māori through bilingual signage, digital platforms and dedicated language spaces.
One example is ReoSpace, a dedicated area within Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui, the University's General Library. It was introduced in 2024 to create a safe environment where people can speak and practise te reo Māori at all levels.
The University’s own Te Kūaha app supports everyday use of the language and is a digital resource that helps staff and students engage in te reo Māori in everyday university life. The app includes help with creating a pepeha, for people from all cultures, and enables users to participate confidently in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori.
Alongside these initiatives, researchers at the University are exploring how technology can support the next phase of language revitalisation.
Current projects include the development of AI-powered pronunciation tools that allow learners to practise te reo Māori on the go, as well as advanced speech technology that recognises pronunciation mistakes.
Researchers are also working on initiatives that strengthen the language’s future within te ao Māori. At the James Henare Research Centre, a project is underway to launch the Te Tai Tokerau Dictionary, highlighting the dialect of the north. Other work is examining Māori data sovereignty, including the protection of story sovereignty and te reo sovereignty in digital environments.
Together, these initiatives highlight how mātauranga Māori and emerging technologies can work together to support the future of the language.
Steedman says combining mātauranga Māori with emerging technology will play an important role in the next chapter of language revitalisation.
“Te reo Māori has always evolved with the people who speak it. The work happening here shows how traditional knowledge and new technologies can work together to strengthen the future of the language.”
Goals for 2026–2030
Over the next five years, the University will:
Expand teaching and learning opportunities
Develop courses, resources and academic pathways that allow staff and students to learn, teach and submit academic work in te reo Māori across multiple disciplines.
Strengthen Māori language communities and partnerships
Work alongside iwi, hapū and mātanga reo to support language revitalisation and create immersion environments for Māori-speaking students.
Normalise te reo Māori across campus life
Increase bilingual signage, expand the presence of te reo Māori across digital platforms and branding, and create spaces where the language can be used every day.
Elevate the value of te reo Māori
Recognise language capability within recruitment and professional development frameworks and celebrate Māori language leadership among staff and students.
Advance Māori language research and innovation
Develop research networks, support projects such as the Te Tai Tokerau dictionary, build AI tools for language learning and implement Māori data sovereignty practices.
Implementation of the strategy will be overseen by the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, with annual reporting and monitoring to track progress across the University.