If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
The vocabulary list is now first, so that you can check the meanings of the words before you listen.
Vocabulary
indigenous – relating to people who have lived a long time in a country, before other people arrived
revitalise – to make something stronger or more active
ancestor – a member of someone’s family who lived a long time ago
mainland – the main area of land that forms a country, and not including the islands around it. For New Zealand, ‘the mainland’ can refer to the North and South Islands. However, some people in the South Island say ‘the mainland’ just for the South Island.
sealers and whalers – people who hunted seals and whales
be enslaved – to be made a slave
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What was the aim of Moriori Language Week?
- Where are Rēkohu – Chatham Islands?
- When did Moriori ancestors come to Rēkohu – Chatham Islands?
- When did a British ship come to Rēkohu?
- What happened after two Māori tribes arrived in 1835?
- What happened to the Moriori population?
- What do Moriori people hope?
News story
Last week, 17-23 November, was the first ever Moriori Language Week. Moriori is the indigenous language of Rēkohu – Chatham Islands.
The aim of this Week was to honour and revitalise ta rē Moriori, the Moriori language. There were events on Rēkohu and in several cities around New Zealand, and many online resources were made available, for people to learn about the language and culture.
The Moriori people are indigenous to Rēkohu – Chatham Islands, which are approximately 860km east of Christchurch. According to current research, Moriori ancestors arrived there from Eastern Polynesia in the 1400s, followed by some from mainland Aotearoa. They lived there for 600 years, isolated from the rest of the world, and developed a unique culture. Moriori language has some similarities to te reo Māori but is a distinct language.
A British ship, the Chatham, came to Rēkohu in 1791, and the British claimed it for their King and named that island after their ship. Sealers and whalers came later, and then two Māori tribes arrived in 1835. Because a Moriori ancestor had forbidden war, the Moriori did not fight back, and many were killed or enslaved by the Māori until 1863. The population fell from around 1700 to only 100 by 1870. Since then, there has been a long period of recovery for the Moriori, including reclaiming their land and revitalising their language and culture. They hope that Moriori Language Week will be the first of many to raise awareness and encourage people to learn the language.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer.
a. What was the aim of Moriori Language Week?
To honour and revitalise ta rē Moriori, the Moriori language
b. Where are Rēkohu – Chatham Islands?
Approximately 860km east of Christchurch
c. When did Moriori ancestors come to Rēkohu – Chatham Islands?
In the 1400s
d. When did a British ship come to Rēkohu?
In 1791
e. What happened after two Māori tribes arrived in 1835?
Because a Moriori ancestor had forbidden war, the Moriori did not fight back, so many were killed or enslaved by the Māori
f. What happened to the Moriori population?
The population fell from around 1700 to only 100 by 1870
g. What do Moriori people hope?
They hope that Moriori Language Week will be the first of many to raise awareness and encourage people to learn the language.