He nui ngā tūmomo reo o te Māori. Ko te reo tuauriuri whāioio tērā, ko te reo ōkawa tērā, ko te reo ōpaki tērā, ko ngā mita, ko ngā kīwaha, ko ngā whakataukī me ngā whakatauākī a ngā iwi puta noa i te motu. I roto i ngā tau maha kua taha ake, kua tāharahara te reo Māori, kua mimiti haere. Hei ātete i tēnei āhua, kua kāpunipuni ngā tohunga me ngā kaupapa ki te whakahaumanu i te reo, kia tangata whenua anō ai te reo Māori ki te ngākau o te iwi. Ka whai take te mihi ki te hunga i upoko pakaru, i toka tū moana ki te whakarangatira i te reo Māori.
Otirā, i hāngai ngā kaupapa whakamāui reo ki te reo ōpaki, ki te reo kōrero, ki te reo kāuta. Ko tāku e whakapae nei, ko te reo e ngaro nei i roto i ngā mahi whakaora reo, ko te reo kāmehameha o ngā toi huarewa, ko te reo tapu o ngā manumea, ko te reo tau ukiuki o te marae. Koinei te pūtake o tēnei tuhinga roa. He kohikohinga kōrero, he whakamoana whakaaro ki te whakatakoto i te rautaki whakaora i te reo ōkawa o Hauraki.
Me hoki ake au ki te mauri o ōku waka o Hauraki, o ōku maunga o Moehau, o Te Aroha, o te tupuna Marutūāhu, o Te Tara o Te-Ika-a-Māui. Me hoki ahau ki te oneone tapu o ōku mātua tūpuna ki te whakatū i Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki hei whare pupuru i te mana o ngā taonga kairangi a ngā tūpuna, kia ora ake ai ēnei tikanga mō ake tonu atu. Ko tā tēnei tuhinga roa, he whakatakoto i te mahere whakatū i ngā pakitara, i ngā poupou, i te tāhū, i te tuanui, i ngā wāhanga katoa o tōku whare wānanga. Ko te tūmanako, ka tū tōku whare, ka huaki te kūaha, ka rere te reo pōwhiri ki tōku iwi.
“Hauraki, nau mai ki ngā taonga a koro mā, a kui mā. Nau mai ki te reo ōkawa, ki te reo tapu. Haere mai ki Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki.”
The Māori language is not confined to a single form, but rather consists of a plethora of genre. For example, there is the basic language of communication, the particular language of proverbs and utterances, unique tribal and regional dialects and the esoteric and enigmatic formal language that adds depth and dignity to Māori language discourse. However, regardless of its linguistic wealth, the recent history of the Māori language is one of decline and diminishing use. Spurred on by the increasing desperate situation of the language, many Māori language advocates worked together to establish various initiatives to revitalise and regenerate te reo Māori. For their tireless efforts, these dedicated individuals and groups should be applauded. This thesis is written in the Māori language, in support of such efforts.
However, the overwhelming majority of Māori language initiatives have focused on improving the most basic forms of the language, leaving the more metaphoric and ceremonial style of language aside. Herein lies the essence of this thesis. In the context of a modern society, how are we able to maintain and restore the quality and integrity of ‘traditional’ formal and ceremonial Māori language?
Underpinning this thesis are my own tribal origins. The foundation of this study is situated within the peoples of Hauraki. It is upon this foundation that I hope to construct the building blocks of an institution and a philosophy, to perpetuate the formal oral traditions of the descendants of Marutūāhu and other iwi of Hauraki. This institution will be known as Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki. Within this study I will describe the establishment of Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki, discussing its vision, creation and interlinked components. It is my deep seated desire to realise the creation of Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki, my sacred house of learning, in order to open its door and herald a heartfelt cry to my kin.
"Hauraki, harken the call of our ancestor to uphold our traditional treasures, hold fast to our unique ceremonial language, Hauraki, welcome to your Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero”.
