Launch of new audiobook Māori Made Easy

In partnership with Manatū Taonga and Māori Television, Penguin Random House New Zealand is delighted to launch the audiobook of the bestselling Māori language learning resource, Māori Made Easy, written and narrated by author Scotty Morrison.

Penguin Random House New Zealand has launched the complete audiobook of Scotty Morrison’s bestselling Māori Made Easy.

The audiobook is voiced by Scotty himself — expert language teacher, presenter and author of the Māori Made Easy books and the accompanying workbook/kete series.

It contains 28 user-friendly, step-by-step lessons that make learning te reo Māori fun, simple and relevant to anyone wanting to learn the basics of the language today, plus inspiring insights into the language-learning journey and more than 400 te reo Māori kupu to learn and practice along the way.

At their own pace, hands-free, wherever and whenever they like, users of this high-quality resource will adopt the language easily and in a way that suits their busy lives.

The book was made possible by sponsor Manatū Taonga as part of its Te Arataki strategy and lead role in the Government’s Maihi Karauna strategy.

Mike Nathan, Pou Mataaho o Te Pae Huarewa (Deputy Chief Executive) at Manatū Taonga is pleased about this great undertaking.:

‘Āe, e hurō ana te ngākau – we are indeed delighted to support te reo Māori in helping to create an innovative and accessible way of learning with an already bestselling text resource. We recognise the ability for te reo Māori to nurture a shared sense of Aotearoatanga, our national identity. Valuing, learning and using te reo Māori are all vital to its revitalisation. Māori language learning is continuing to grow, both organically and alongside the government’s commitment through the Maihi Karauna. This audiobook is part of that.’

Māori Television supported the project by producing the audiobook in-house at its Auckland studios. The audiobook was recorded and produced at Māori Television from a script adapted by Dave Armstrong, by Hoani Smith and Ben Meyer] and Audio Post Engineer Julie Eastwood, and with music by Woodcut studios. Joining Scotty as voice talent were MTS actors and newsreaders Wihapi Haira as Māka, Roimata Katipao as Mere, Toni Hoete as the kaiako, Taylor Hohepa as Rawinia, Zantana Raerino-Bell as Atawhai, Juneea Silbery as Te Aro, Miriama Prendergast as Mama, and Moehau Hodges-Tai as Pāpā.

Tāhuhu Rangapū Shane Taurima, from Māori Television said, “Revitalisation of te reo Māori is a key strategic outcome at Māori Television and we are all committed to playing our role in helping this happen. Our kaimahi were pleased to be involved in this audio book knowing it will be an essential resource for those on their reo journey, to ensure te reo Māori thrives. Kia ora te reo Māori!”

Head of Publishing at Penguin Random House New Zealand Claire Murdoch says,

‘This has been a truly special kaupapa. I have loved seeing the stars align, thanks to the support of Manatū Taonga, and witnessing the expert staff at Māori TV create a finished product of true quality and integrity.

Penguin Random House is New Zealand’s preeminent publisher of books in te reo Māori and audio is the fastest-growing area in book publishing in the world today. I know Scotty’s audiobook will become a trusted resource for thousands of users in Aotearoa and beyond, finding a whole new audience for te reo Māori and continuing the work of revitalising this taonga.

Penguin Random House Aotearoa is hugely proud to be publishing it as part of our leading te reo Māori programme. Ka Rawe!’

The Māori Made Easy audiobook will be released under the Penguin imprint internationally and available instantly on the following partner platforms:

• Audible

• Google Play

• Apple iBooks

• Kobo

• Bolinda for physical audiobooks (CDs) and digital library sales

About the audiobook

Voiced by popular TV personality and te reo Māori advocate and teacher Scotty Morrison, and based on his bestselling Māori Made Easy books, this audio series is a one-stop resource for anyone wanting to learn the basics of the Māori language.

While dictionaries list words and their definitions, and other language guides offer common phrases, Māori Made Easy connects the dots, allowing the reader to take control of their learning in an empowering way that is fun, effective — and easy.

Listening to Scotty, repeating after him, and practicing words and phrases, users learn alongside his audio ‘students’, Mere and Māka, in a scenario that mimics real-life lessons using techniques proven to accelerate confidence and knowledge.

In this audiobook, listeners will learn:

• About the Māori language
• Pronunciation
• Numbers
• Greetings and farewells
• Action phrases
• Vocabulary
• Personal pronouns (I, you, him, her)
• Possessive prepositions
• Whānau and introductions
• Tense markers
• Locatives

Professor Scotty Morrison (Ngāti Whakaue) is the well-known presenter of current affairs programmes Te Karere and Marae. He holds a Master’s degree (Education), is working towards his PhD, and has been an Adjunct Professor and the Director of Māori Student and Community Engagement at Auckland’s Unitec Institute of Technology. In 2017, he adopted a new role at Massey University’s

Te Pūtahi-a-Toi (School of Māori Art, Knowledge and Education), working alongside his wife Stacey in a strategic, advocacy and lecturing capacity. Scotty is the author of the bestselling language guides The Raupō Phrasebook of Modern Māori and Māori Made Easy, Māori Made Easy 2, and the books Māori at Home, and Māori Made Fun which were co-authored with Stacey. They live in Auckland with their three children Hawaiki, Kurawaka and Maiana.

‘It goes without saying that te reo Māori is part of who we are as a country . . . I have an aspiration that my generation will be the last generation to regret not having the chance to learn te reo Māori in our learning and education journey.’ — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Māori Language Week, September 2019

‘Māori Made Easy is not just a useful book, it's an essential one.’ — Paul Little, North & South

‘Māori Made Easy definitely makes Māori easy to learn while also making it fun.’ — Spasifik

This is a hugely exciting publishing event for Aotearoa and PRHNZ is honoured that Manatū Taonga and the team at Māori Television have enabled its high-quality production.

Māori Made Easy Audiobook nā Scotty Morrison | Published by Penguin Random House NZ
15 September 2020 | $45.00

https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/maori-made-easy-9780143774563

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