Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has issued a challenge for the 42nd Maori Language Week which starts today.

'Use Maori Language Week to make a change in your life that lasts well beyond the week,” Mr Flavell says.

'No matter what level your te reo Maori is, everyone should be able to think of a change they can introduce to their own lives to support more Maori in our communities.

'It may be as simple as saying ‘Morena' every morning or saying ‘kia ora' instead of ‘thank you'. Be brave and give something a go.”

The Minister says te reo Maori becoming more of a living language throughout society was an aim of Te Ture mo Te Reo Maori (the Maori Language Act) 2016.

'Te Wiki o te reo Maori is a great reminder of this aim to speak and support our language so that it may be heard everywhere and all the time.”

Mr Flavell says a #korero pin released recently as part of Rotorua's celebration of becoming the country's first bilingual city also contributed to that aim.

'The pins are for people who want to illustrate their support for te reo Maori and who wish to use more te reo Māori in their daily lives.

'Whatever one's fluency, the important thing is our willingness to support and breathe life into our indigenous language.”

Mr Flavell says a special edition silver #korero pin will be released as part of Te Wiki o te reo Maori.

'The theme for Te Wiki o te reo Maori this year is Kia ora te reo Maori and I would love all New Zealanders to use that as an inspiration to include more te reo Maori in their own lives.”

SOURCE: Office of Te Ururoa Flavell