F

or the first time, the Moriori people, the tchakat henu (tangata whenua) of Rēkohu, the Chatham Islands, are celebrating a full week dedicated to their language, ta rē Moriori, beginning Monday, 17 November. It’s a moment that’s been generations in the making and one that marks a proud milestone for the Moriori community across Aotearoa.

Hokotehi Moriori Trust secretary Hana-Maraea Solomon says the week is about connection and sharing. “We just want everybody to be able to share and enjoy our language with us,” she explains. For many Moriori, every word spoken in ta rē feels like a thread back to their ancestors. “Every time we speak the language, it’s almost like a connection to our karāpuna,” Solomon adds.

Not long ago, few Moriori knew their ancestral language. Generations grew up without access to their traditions or even recognition as a people. That’s changing fast. “Obviously it’s taken a long enough time, decades in fact, to be able to be recognised as a people. So one step at a time,” Solomon says.

A petition launched in 2023 called for the Government to officially recognise Moriori Language Week. But whether or not that recognition comes this year, the celebrations are going ahead. “We wanted the government to recognise our language, we’d appreciate their support, but we don’t need external parties to recognise our language in order to be able to celebrate,” Solomon says with quiet determination.

The week will feature online ta rē sessions, stories, songs, cultural activities, and social media content designed to bring Moriori language and culture to the world. For many, this will be the first time hearing or speaking the language. “We’re going to do the best that we can with the resources that we’ve got and the people that we’ve got,” Solomon says. “Next year will be even bigger and even better and I just encourage everybody to give it a try.”

Recent years have seen Moriori efforts focused on their Claims Settlement and cultural redress. That work has built a foundation for this next step — language revitalisation. Solomon says Moriori have been rediscovering their karakii (incantations) and rongo (songs), adding each new piece to their kete of knowledge. Exhibitions, films, and new creative projects are helping to tell the Moriori story in their own words.

Census data shows there are around 78 people of Moriori descent living in the Wellington Region, part of a small but vibrant group of Moriori spread across the motu. For the capital’s residents, this first language week offers a chance to connect — through online events, shared stories, or simply learning a few Moriori words. It’s a chance for Wellingtonians to stand alongside a people reclaiming their voice and to celebrate another layer of Aotearoa’s cultural richness.

The revival of ta rē Moriori is not just a linguistic project — it’s a movement of pride, identity, and hope. After decades of silence, the language of Rēkohu is being spoken again. As Solomon puts it, “You get that feeling when you’re just not ready, but when is the right time? There’s never a right time — we just need to get it done.”

For Moriori and for all of Aotearoa, this is indeed the right time.