The University of Auckland recognises te reo Māori is the foundation of Māori culture and identity, and despite it being one of three official languages in Aotearoa New Zealand it remains endangered.

The University has a role to play in preserving and protecting the language and culture, and is committed to doing so in partnership with iwi Māori and the community.

The University of Auckland has a history of providing expertise in support of the revitalisation of te reo Māori through the Department of Māori Studies and Te Puna Wānanga over many years.

The University now seeks to build on that contribution into the future.

Led by the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori and with expertise provided by Te Mātanga Reo, our Māori Language Advisory Committee, we have prepared our first formal language plan for the revitalisation of te reo Māori. The language plan outlines how we will implement our Te Reo Māori Policy. The language plan was endorsed by the University Senior Leadership Team (SLT) on 29 August 2019.

The University language plan aligns with the Crown strategy for the revitalisation of te reo Māori by setting three aspirational goals:

• By 2040 50% of staff will have the ability and confidence to demonstrate a basic level of competency in te reo Māori
• By 2024 all existing staff will have participated in professional development for te reo Māori learning and all new staff will be offered a course
• By 2025 all students will have the option of a te reo Māori course in their programme of study

In order to revitalise te reo Māori so that it is a living language used by all of us, we are aiming to raise the status of the language, promote learning of te reo and tikanga Māori and encourage its use by creating opportunities for the language to be seen and heard every day at the University.

New buildings will include bilingual signage and symbols of tikanga Māori, such as the Pou adorning the entrance to the new Engineering Building, Te Herenga Mātai Pūkaha.

Staff, students and alumni will have new opportunities for learning and using te reo Māori.

The University have launched a te reo and tikanga Māori digital learning app called Te Kūaha – The Doorway.

A collection of University of Auckland academic terms have been translated to establish a standard for te reo Māori use at the University and will be available to students and staff in the near future.

We encourage the whole University community to embrace the commitments of this first University of Auckland Language Plan for the Revitalisation of Te Reo Māori.