The article discusses the revival of ta rē Moriori, the Moriori language, which has been lost since the early 20th century. This linguistic revival is part of a broader effort to reclaim and restore the cultural and historical identity of the Moriori people of Rēkohu (the Chatham Islands). The Moriori were historically misrepresented as having been extinct due to a false narrative propagated through educational materials, including the New Zealand School Journal, which claimed they were a primitive Melanesian people driven from Aotearoa New Zealand by Māori. In reality, Moriori traditions indicate they arrived directly from Eastern Polynesia and later from Aotearoa New Zealand around the 1400s. The article highlights a 2020 apology from the Crown acknowledging historical failures to protect Moriori, including their enslavement, land dispossession, and the removal of human remains from the Colonial Museum. The Moriori language was lost by the early 20th century, but efforts are now underway to revive it, including the first Ta wik’ a ta rē Moriori language week launched in 2025. The article also mentions the discovery of a double-hulled canoe (Rangihoua Waka) dating from 1440-1470, one of the most important archaeological finds in Aotearoa New Zealand, though excavation remains incomplete due to lack of funding. The revival of the Moriori language and cultural heritage is seen as vital for preserving the community's history and providing a new perspective on early history of the region. The article emphasizes that language loss means the cultural and intellectual heritage of communities is at risk, and reviving dormant languages reconnects people with their culture and history. The University of Auckland and the Hokotehi Moriori Trust are collaborating on recovering the grammar and properties of ta rē Moriori from historical texts. The article concludes that initiatives like the language week and archaeological discoveries offer opportunities to generate renewed interest in the history and culture of Rēkohu, encouraging preservation for future generations.

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YouTube video by Polyglot Conference

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