South Otago High School Mäori Department

Te Reo Maori is the ancestral language of the Maori people of Aotearoa. It derives from eastern Polynesia and is most closely linked to the language family that includes the Cook Islands Maori, Tahitian and Hawaiian languages. Te Reo is a rich and complex language and culture, which includes many forms of visual language and incorporates body language and gesture, dance and drama.

It has also been catergorised as a visual culture expressed in a multitude of ways, carved and woven tools, weapons and architectural structures such as Marae and Whare Karakia. Oral literature is taught in the form of Whaikorereo, Karanga, Waiata, Haka, Poi, Whakatauki and Pepeha. These genres allow Rangatahi (students) to contribute and become part of the process so that Maori continue to preserve ancient traditions, values, caretaking and most importantly revive the language.  

The focus for 2009 is to acknowledge the different cultures of South Otago students and focus on developing a better understanding of how Te Reo can benefit individual students, whanau and build positive career pathways for the future.