Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori at The Hearing House

This week, The Hearing House came together to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. It was a time to honour the beauty and importance of te reo Māori and te ao Māori. More than a celebration of language, it was a celebration of whakawhanaungatanga, the process of building and strengthening relationships, and recognising the connections that unite us. 

We were privileged to be joined by Tipene Pickett, whose passion for his mahi uplifted and inspired us all. His energy reminded us of the power of te reo and its ability to connect people across generations, cultures, and communities. 

We also welcomed Jon Tai-Rakena, our Deaf Aotearoa colleagues, and our kiritaki (client) Kathy Thomas, who shared in our wānanga on Te Whare Tapa Whā. Together, we explored the model of wellbeing that balances taha wairua (spiritual health), taha hinengaro (mental health), taha tinana (physical health), and taha whānau (family health). 

Tipene teaching The Hearing House team about Te Whare Tapa Whā 

Tipene also took us deeper into the etymology (whakapapa) of words, exploring how wairua is made up of smaller words within it: wai (water), rua (two), ai (join/sex), rū (vibrate), wā (time and space), i (of), and ua (current). He showed how, in te reo Māori, each smaller word contributes to a much richer and layered meaning. For our Deaf community members, this was especially powerful, as their experience of words and sounds is different. They were fascinated to see how vibration, connection, and meaning are woven into language in this way. 

We also reflected on how sound itself is a vibration, something that can be felt as much as heard. It was wonderful to see how New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) brought many of these concepts to life, reminding us of the different ways communication takes place. The shared understanding across languages and cultures was a beautiful example of whakawhanaungatanga in action. 

What made this gathering especially meaningful was the merging of two worlds: the Deaf community and te ao Māori. Both are rich in language, culture, and ways of seeing the world. By coming together, we celebrated not only te reo Māori but also the beauty of Deaf culture and language. This merging is what whakawhanaungatanga is all about: finding strength in our shared experiences, learning from one another, and deepening our connections. 

It was a special time of connection, learning, and celebration. We left with hearts full, reminded of the importance of valuing all languages, all cultures, and the ways they enrich our work and our lives.