Award winning Victoria University of Wellington designed app
A Māori language learning app, released by Victoria University of Wellington’s Te Kura Māori, based in the Faculty of Education, has won the tertiary sector award at Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2015 (Māori Language Awards).
A Māori language learning app, released by Victoria University of Wellington’s Te Kura Māori, based in the Faculty of Education, has won the tertiary sector award at Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2015 (Māori Language Awards).
Puna—a tool for children or those beginning to learn Māori—is the second te reo Māori learning app to be developed by staff from Te Kura Māori. The first app—Kura—was developed for people with some level of proficiency in the language.
The app reached number 13 in Apple’s top free educational apps in New Zealand. It has also engaged nearly 2,500 global users in the last six months.
Puna is used as part of a Ministry of Education initiative to increase Māori language proficiency in schools where subjects are taught in te reo.
Dr Tabitha McKenzie, a lecturer from Te Kura Māori, says the team behind the app is happy and grateful that its contribution to language teaching and learning has been recognised.
“It affirms our commitment to continue being innovative in the area of te reo Māori within kura, kāinga, hapori (schools, the home and the community).”
Ngā Tohu Reo Māori is an annual Māori language awards event held to celebrate excellence and long term commitment to te reo Māori in Aotearoa.
The awards, hosted by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, aim to recognise te reo Māori regeneration and innovation.