Te Wiki o te Reo Maori

Today I borrowed a library book and ordered a hot chocolate, all in te reo.  I was impressed to find that the library system had adopted te reo (Maori language) for the week.  The first sight of the screen was slightly daunting, but I managed to muddle my way through.

Library computer screen

I’d got to the stage of paying the fee for my ‘held’ book before I thought to take a picture.  This screen indicates that I needed to pay a fee ( nama debt, whaina forfeit) of $3 and that my total balance now was $7.40.  I’m not sure what the sentence underneath (utunga expenses incurred, iti small, rawa best) ending in 10 cents indicates – a minimum payment?

I was pleased that I managed to pay and get the docket that tells when my book is due, which was printed in te reo.  Afterwards I realised a librarian had been keeping an eye on my progress, and she told me there was an icon at the bottom left of the screen with an option to change to English.  (How often have I been told ‘Read the screen!’ ?).

In the library cafe I was confronted by a mat informing me that if I ordered my coffee in te Reo I would get a small prize.

Coffee order in te reo

I had no difficulty asking for he tiakerete wera maku, and my prize turned out to be a mini chocolate fish.

It’s been great to see how common te reo has been this week.  Even the ‘Press’ has changed its masthead to Te Matatika, meaning to be honest, fair, impartial, and unbiased.  It remains to be seen how much of this other official language of New Zealand carries on once Maori Language Week is over.

‘This special Aotearoa tongue
deserves to have its praises sung.’