Nz Radio Training School

What is it and why is it so important to the survival of the Māori language? Professor Wharehuia Milroy describes kīwaha as a unique language expression derived from the personal learning experience of the author during an event. It may make no sense to any-one else but the author, their immediate family, or people. Kīwaha can be termed as an informal language tool, slang or idiom that expresses the emotional state of a speaker. In support of the revitalisation of the Māori language, we have selected 10 kīwaha from Ngā Rauru, Whanganui and Taranaki. These are all presented using our Māori language and our special mita (rhythm). That is the “h” is not strongly enunciated when Taranaki, Whanganui and Ngā Rauru speak. Today’s kīwaha is “Kei te haere au ki te rāoa i te ngārara!” Its English equivalent can be termed as; I’m going to choke the snake or from a male’s perspective I need to urinate. “E hoa e haere ana koe ki whea?” “Kei te haere au ki te rāoa i te ngārara!” “So where are you off to me friend?”