Maori Language Week

Yesterday I had about two sentences in my head to say and somehow I wrote a very long essay. This effort, I hope, will be shorter.
Basically, I am pleased by how Māori Language Week went this year. This week, set up to cultivate NZ’s other official language*, has been growing in stature and presence over the last decade. It is nice to see Māori continue to work its way into everyday conversation here, and for example to turn up on mainstream television with such high frequency.
One of the reasons it’s nice is that it continues to smack down the protests of those conservative forces who disapprove of teaching Māori in schools. I think Māori language should be core curriculum for NZ pupils, but a frequent objection is that the language wouldn’t be “useful”. (They should learn Chinese, say these forces, in an odd moment of honesty about where the world is headed.)
Well, newsflash – if speaking Māori wasn’t useful before, it certainly is now. With the Māori presence continuing to rise everywhere in civic life, and the bicultural aspirations of the Treaty of Waitangi gaining ever-greater purchase, knowing Māori is incredibly useful for anyone who wishes to work or do business in NZ.
Of course, the main reason for supporting Māori language is not utilitarian, despite these folk; it is about cultural access, about ensuring New Zealanders are able to understand and participate in both cultural streams in this country.
And I’m totally doing it again. The reason I wanted to post about this is because I am totally in love with the branding developed for this year’s week. It’s a fantastic piece of design. Here, check it out:

Isn’t that just lovely? The classic typeface with a light-hearted contrast between vertical and horizontal weights, the hearts made out of koru, the jaunty and self-assured message. Whoever did this design deserves applause, because it’s marvellous and absolutely in keeping with where NZ is at right now. It makes me smile.
E noho rā!
* NZ sign language is NZ’s other other official language