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A collage of people are signing, with speech bubbles of signs and a red background. Design: Elise Cautley.

Launch of NZSL waiata celebrates Turi Māori community

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By Naketa Phillips

Turi Māori leaders and kaumatua come together to address the lack of accessible Māori language and cultural resources for the Deaf community.

  • Launch of NZSL waiata celebrates Turi Māori community
    Naketa Phillips
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  • A few weeks ago, turi leadership - organised through CCS Disability Action - launched some beautiful and powerful signs for two waiata: Tōku Reo Tōku Ohooho and Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi, and a karakia for Rūaumoko.

    The event was hosted in Tāmaki Makaurau, with Turi Māori across the motū coming together to share this brilliant kaupapa. The kaupapa was centred on providing the Māori Deaf community with access to te ao Māori by translating our traditional waiata Māori and karakia into te reo rotarota, aiming to integrate the sign and Māori worlds.

    This kaupapa was created by a group of turi Māori leaders and kaumatua who wanted to address the lack of accessible Māori language and cultural resources for the Deaf community, and took many years in the making.

    Being in the room confirmed that many turi Māori have faced barriers to accessing te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, and that translating waiata and karakia into te reo rotarota can help create more inclusive pathways for reconnecting with culture and identity. The launch of the NZSL waiata felt like a big stepping stone toward much-needed change for our Turi Māori whanau.

    The highlight for me were the emotions held in the room of mana, mannakitanga and whakawhanautanga when the waiata were played on the big screens. This was an iconic moment for Turi Māori history!

    Watch and learn the NZSL waiata below:

  • Video credits

    Waiata - Tūtira mai ngā iwi

    Kaiwaiata Turi: Tanesha Sleeman, Starr Phillips, Brooklyn West
    Ngā Kaihautu: Tanesha Sleeman, Starr Phillips, Brooklyn West, Tarsha Takarangi-Berry, Eric Matthews, Rahera Turner, Cruze Kapa
    Kāhui Kaumātua: Richard Peri, Whiti Ronaki, Geneva Kareko, Mita Moses
    He mihi motuhake: Aotearoa Songbook, Tūtira mai ngā iwi, Composed by Cannon Wī Te Tau Huata

    Waiata - Tōku reo, tōku ohooho

    Kaiwaiata Turi: Tanesha Sleeman, Starr Phillips, Brooklyn West
    Ngā Kaihautu: Tanesha Sleeman, Starr Phillips, Brooklyn West, Tarsha Takarangi-Berry, Eric Matthews, Rahera Turner, Cruze Kapa
    Kāhui Kaumātua: Richard Peri, Whiti Ronaki, Geneva Kareko, Mita Moses
    He mihi motuhake: Aotearoa Songbook, Tōku Reo, Tōku Ohooho, Composed by Te Tawhiro Mawell & Ōkeroa Huriwaka

    Karakia - Rūaumoko

    Kaikarakia: Eric Mathews
    Ngā Kaihautu: Tanesha Sleeman, Starr Phillips, Brooklyn West, Tarsha Takarangi-Berry, Eric Mattews, Rahera Turner, Cruze Kapa
    Kāhui Kaumātua: Richard Peri, Whiti Ronaki, Geneva Kareko, Mita Moses
    Kaitito: Te Aroha Mane and Te Amohanga Rangihau

    Whakaputanga Ataata | Video Production: Puoro mai rangi Kākā

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