'Taihoa', 'Haere' – first te reo Māori road traffic signs make an impact

Thursday, 14 October 2021

Traffic management veteran David Taui is passionate about te reo Māori, so converting traditional stop-go signs to their Māori equivalent felt right to him.

Drivers in the Bay of Plenty between Te Teko and Awakeri witnessed the first use of “Taihoa” (wait) and “Haere” (go) signs on their roads on Wednesday.

The idea came from a 30-year veteran of traffic management, David Taui (Te Arawa), who wanted te reo Māori to be used in his working environment to let the language grow, and educate the multitudes who would be directed by traffic signs in te reo Māori.

Although not yet authorised by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Taui decided to take a stand for the Māori language and opened a “30-minute window to try the panels out”.

“We have had the police stop at our rākau and we have got no opposition. Nobody has turned up today and told us we cannot use these. We have a legal traffic management plan in place to be at this site on State Highway 30 Awakeri, right here, right today,” the passionate Taui said.

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Traffic management team David Taui, Dāmel Taui, Wiremu Taui and Mel Taui seized an opportunity to share te reo Māori with drivers travelling between Te Teko and Awakeri in the Bay of Plenty on Wednesday.

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This is not the first time English language on signage has been challenged, with the late Hawea Vercoe from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Rotoiti determined to have “Kura” on his buses in 2006 rather than “School”. He eventually won support from the then government.

On Wednesday, Taui and his wife, Mel, set up a legal traffic management worksite to safely divert vehicles around arborists working on trees overhanging the roads.

One of those working with the arborists’ team was Rangitane Harawira (Tūhoe and Ngāti Rongomaiwāhine), who uses Taui and the team often for traffic management when required.

“There are non-Māori singers out there that are having their songs translated to Māori. But translating and being used on traffic signs, that's new.”

Dāmel Taui led the team with his tuakana, Wiremu Taui. The pair were controlling traffic with the specially carved handle creating a pouwhenua (stake of strength and stance) and a whare (house-shaped head with the words “Taihoa” and “Haere”).

Taui had the signs made by a friend and, once completed, pouwhenua were made and gifted to the kaupapa.

“It has been pretty good,” Dāmel Taui said. “No negative stuff, heaps of waves, heaps of smiles, actually got a pūkana from one lady.”

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has said it wants to see te reo Māori seen, spoken, and heard wherever possible, to continue the revitalisation of the language.

Its land transport director Kane Patena says the layout and content of traffic signs in New Zealand are governed by the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004.

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“What is permitted on traffic signs is quite restricted in terms of wording and symbols.

“We accept the current rule around traffic signs doesn’t reflect many people’s aspirations for te reo Māori and we want to see that changed,” Patena said.

This story first appeared on Te Ao – Māori News and has been republished on Stuff with permission.