Ake, Ake, Ake: Te Reo Lives in Every Piece of Pounamu
Pounamu has always been named. Every type of stone, every carving style, every river it was pulled from carries a kupu (word) that has been passed down through generations. Te reo Māori isn't just the language we build into our everyday kōrero at Moko Pounamu. It's the language the stone speaks too.
This September, we're celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week, 14-21 Mahuru) and the 2026 kaupapa: Ake, Ake, Ake – Mō Ake Tonu Te Reo Māori (A Forever Language).
The focus this year is on Tāone Reo Māori (Te Reo Towns), a call for communities across Aotearoa to make te reo visible, heard, and used in everyday life.
He Reo Tō Te Pounamu - The Language of Pounamu
When you hold a piece of pounamu, you hold language. Kawakawa, inanga, kahurangi, tangiwai: these aren't just descriptions of colour or translucency. They're names that carry whakapapa (genealogy), connecting each stone to its origins in the rivers and mountains of Te Tai Poutini (the West Coast).
The same is true of the carvings themselves. A koru (spiral) speaks of new beginnings. A hei matau (fish hook) carries the language of prosperity and safe passage over water. A manaia (guardian figure) names the protector that walks beside you.
Without te reo Māori, these stories have no voice.
Tāone Reo Māori: Te Reo in Ōtautahi
Here in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), we're proud to be part of keeping te reo alive in our community. Every piece that leaves our workshop at 340 Durham Street North carries its Māori name. Every customer who asks "what does this one mean?" leaves with a few new kupu.
That's the heart of Tāone Reo Māori. Not a single grand gesture, but a thousand small ones: using te reo in signage, in conversation, in the stories we tell about our taonga (treasures).
Ngā Rauemi | Resources for Your Reo Journey
Whether you're just beginning your reo journey or you've been speaking for years, Te Wiki is an invitation to go a little deeper. Here are some of our favourite resources:
- Te Rangaihi Reo Māori – the official hub for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, packed with ideas, events, and downloadable resources
- Kupu Hou – a glossary of new and standardised te reo Māori words for modern life
- Whai Wāhi / Take Part – find out how to get involved in your community
Introducing: Moko Pounamu Kawakawa Oil + Taonga Spray
We're excited to share something brand new with you this Te Wiki.
In collaboration with Whakapakari Ora, a proudly wāhine Māori owned and operated pakihi (business), we've created a taonga care collection rooted in rongoā (traditional plant medicine) and intentional ritual.
Kawakawa Oil is a nourishing, kawakawa-infused oil designed to care for and maintain the natural beauty of your pounamu. Apply a drop, gently massage, and let it absorb. It's a moment to pause and reconnect with the stories your taonga carries.
Taonga Spray is a gentle botanical mist crafted from kawakawa, taramea, and tarata hydrosols. Each bottle contains a precious piece of pounamu as a mixer. It's a way to honour the connection between you and your taonga through simple, everyday care.
This collection was born from the understanding that our taonga hold more than their physical form. They carry whakapapa, memories, and the connections that shape who we are. Caring for them is caring for those stories.
Explore the Kawakawa Oil + Taonga Spray →
Te Wiki Giveaway | Tuku Taonga
To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, we're giving away a prize pack that brings together the old and the new.
The prize:
- A Toki Bundle featuring two hand-carved kawakawa pounamu toki from Moko Workshops, symbolising strength, determination, and focus.
- Our brand new Kawakawa Oil + Taonga Spray collection, so you can care for your taonga with intention from day one.
How to enter:
Every purchase made from our website or in-store at our Ōtautahi showroom between 4 Mahuru (September) and 21 Mahuru automatically goes into the draw. No code needed, no hoops to jump through. Just shop as you normally would, and you're in.
One winner will be drawn after Te Wiki wraps up. We'll announce the winner on our socials and reach out directly.
Explore Our Collection
Every piece in our collection carries a story told in te reo Māori. Whether it's a hand-carved hei matau for someone setting off on a new journey, or a kawakawa pendant that connects the wearer to the whenua (land), browsing our taonga is its own kind of reo journey.
Moko Pounamu Knowledge Library
