Revitalisation Of Languages

Start Date: Saturday 21 September 2024

Venue: Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, Taranaki

Doors Open: 01:00pm

Time: 01:00pm - 03:00pm

Restrictions: All Ages

How does a culture disappear? How can minority and threatened languages or cultures survive in the midst of dominant global languages and cultures? How does the current exhibition without centre, without limits - featuring indigenous artists from Taiwan, help us to hear a range of voices? On occasion of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori this September, we consider these and other questions in a community kōrero. Guest speakers include Dr. Ruakere Hond and Fesaitu Solomone - Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Pacific Languages. Join us as we explore how we can be leading with our languages and delve deeper, moving forward from a position of strength. Free but please book your tickets via govettbrewster.com. Dr. Ruakere Hond: For over 30 years Ruakere has worked and taught in Māori language immersion programmes for adult education and in community-based reo development projects working to re-create Māori speaker communities. Much of his activity has been to enhance the use of immersion learning with Te Ataarangi and in revitalising regional language with Te Reo o Taranaki and Kura Whakarauora. His views have helped influence New Zealand’s language revitalisation strategy as a past member of Te Taura Whiri and Te Mātāwai. Currently, Ruakere has multiple roles in the community and with research, while also a sitting member of the Waitangi Tribunal. Within ‘Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori’, a Ministry of Education project, he has a leadership role in the delivery, content development and strategy of this immersion reo programme for school and early childhood teachers through the Manawatū, Whanganui, Taranaki region. Fesaitu Solomone: As a fluent speaker of Faeag Rotuam, Fesaitu Solomone is a passionate advocate and a champion for Rotuman language and culture in Aotearoa and globally. Furthermore, as an educator and translator for Pacific Languages, Fesaitu fully understands the fundamental need for ongoing revitalisation, retention, sustainability of Pacific languages and culture.