Our Ancestors' Voices
Here are past examples of regional dialogue from Māori language exponents across Aotearoa for you to explore.
These rich and diverse selections of taonga preserve the living sound of te reo Māori, spoken by those raised in its communities and traditions.
For learners and fluent speakers alike, these taonga open a doorway to the voices of the past, to strengthen our understanding of how the language was once spoken, and to discover elements of te reo that are now less common.
These taonga have been grouped by the respective regions of their speakers below, so you may listen and refer to them as you learn.
Each taonga includes an area at the bottom featuring region-specific words and phrases drawn from the audiovisual taonga. This will help you, the reader, recognise the distinctive language features of the speakers and the area.
Orators of the western North Island
A distinct East Coast language.
The Harrier Hawk’s view.
A continued legacy.
Ngāi Tahu the gatherers of resources, resources of lasting endurance.
The Ngāti Maniapoto region.
Manawatū, Horowhenua, Wairarapa and Marlborough.
Hero image: Children learning te reo Māori at the summer programme 1983, Tapuaka – Heritage & Archive Collections, ref: VUVCP0293.