Lay summary
Māori culture and Māori language are inseparable, with the language itself being generated from and in turn influencing the experiences of the peoples that speak it. 'Manaakitia te Reo' is a project at the University of Otago (UoO) which explores how assessment in te reo Māori not in language learning contexts can be better supported by the university. Māori and non-Māori UoO staff from a variety of departments and backgrounds were interviewed. These are highly motivated individuals working in a colonial system who, in pursuing te reo Māori, are attempting to reinvent themselves by reclaiming culture and language while also reinventing the contexts in which they work. During interviews participants commented on wider experiences of learning and using te reo Māori in their respective contexts. In this summer studentship, the connection between te reo Māori and health will be explored using interview data obtained from ‘Manaakitia te Reo’.