Around 200 children and their whānau got to sing and dance in Wakefield with singing duo Loopy Tunes to celebrate Māori Language Week.
Sisters Siu Williams-Lemi and Leah Williams-Partington are well known for their bilingual Māori and Pasifika children’s music and held two interactive shows in the village that included a new song about a mokonui (dinosaur) and some loud roars.
One of the duo’s goals is to encourage everyone to give te reo Māori a go, which led to the release of a new fun, catchy, waiata two months ago, Kia Kaha Kōrero Mai. By starting with the youngest tamariki, they hope to help normalise te reo Māori in households.
They challenged tamariki to use te reo Māori through the week, even if it was simply saying ‘kia ora’ each day.
The events were prompted by a partnership between Wakefield Toy Library and Wakefield School, with funding from Pub Charity.
Toy library member Tomomi How says the events were special because so many people came together to make them happen.
“It was a lovely reminder of the warmth and sense of connection we have here in Wakefield.”
Tomomi says the response has prompted the possibility of bringing Loopy Tunes back to Wakefield next year.
