Innovative reo resources launched

Innovative Te Reo Resources Launched by Awanuiārangi Academic 

Dr. Te Hauāuru Tahi-Rangihau, a Senior Lecturer at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, has made groundbreaking contributions to the revitalisation and preservation of te reo Māori with the launch of two innovative resources. 

Her PhD thesis, “He Whare Mōteatea mō ngā Mātauranga Waiata Tūhoe,” stands out as both the first-ever audio book thesis and the first to be narrated entirely in te reo Māori, and by the author herself. 

“Nōku te waimarie nui – it is my privilege to have my thesis transformed from the pages of a book into a talking, singing, living piece of work. 

“I pay homage to the whakatauāki, ‘Whakahokia te reo mai te mata o te pene ki te mata o te arero,’ and I have added, ‘ki te hoi o te taringa’—return te reo Māori from the pen on paper to the tongue and to the ears.” 

The audio book is a collaborative effort, supported by a dedicated team who ensured the essence of the work was preserved and celebrated. It is now available on Spotify and most audiobook platforms, with all proceeds going towards further research and wānanga mōteatea. 

She has also introduced another cultural tāonga: a waiata app, based on the “He Tāonga” booklet created by the late Te Mākarini Temara for Awanuiārangi staff. The app offers over 60 items, including mōteatea, karakia, and all the Awanuiārangi wānanga anthems. Additionally, it features haka pūha composed to commemorate the Māori Land Wars. 

She says, “This is a resource to empower users to connect with our waiata and cultural heritage anywhere, anytime.” 

The app, now available on major platforms such as Android, Apple, and Windows, allows users to download content for offline use, ensuring its accessibility far and wide. Its creation was made possible through a collaborative effort involving developers, cultural advisors, performers, and technical specialists, who worked together to ensure its success and ongoing growth. 

Future plans include building a collection of audio book theses narrated by their authors, ensuring te reo Māori remains a living language for generations to come.