Reo Tū, Reo Ora! Exhibition

This collection of photos from the Reo Tū, Reo Ora! exhibition explores how Wellington would look if Te Reo Māori was once again our first language – our reo rangatira. I imagine an alternate future where Te Reo is normalised, our signage is in Te Reo, and English/Reo Pākēhā, although welcome and used, is no longer our default. Seeds of inspiration have come from a range of places, such as the Four Square in Tokomaru Bay, with it’s Te Reo Māori only signage, and Ōtaki and Rotorua declaring intent to be a bilingual township and city respectively. More recently for this exhibition, I have taken heart from Wellington’s own Te Reo strategy. It is my dream that my daughter grows into a world that treasures her language, and that all New Zealanders can benefit from the richness of that world. Tōku reo tōku ohooho, tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea. Mauri ora!