ATA and Bargain Box join forces to launch a content series that promotes and encourages the use of te reo Māori in the kitchen.
Māori language promotion and production agency ATA has partnered with the leading meal-kit provider, Bargain Box by My Food Bag, to launch Kete Kai, a social-first content series encouraging te reo Māori in the kitchen.
The social-led series will follow award-winning Kiwi chef Rex Morgan as he cooks Bargain Box meals alongside guest Māori language advocates weekly, including Lou Walker, Awhimai Fraser, Pere Wihongi, and Pairama Wright.
As a former MasterChef judge with more than 30 years of experience in the kitchen, Chef Rex will reveal his tips and tricks for cooking a deliciously tasty meal at home. Each guest will step up as sous chef, demonstrating the five steps on the recipe card and using te reo phrases and words to explain what they’re doing and name the ingredients.
Subtitles in English will help viewers understand and learn what each phrase and word means.
Sonny Ngatai, Director at ATA and te reo Māori advocate, commented that this marked a significant step forward in helping encourage using te reo for everyday Kiwis in everyday situations, like the kitchen.
“Whether you’re new to te reo or ready for the next phase of your Māori language journey, Kete Kai presents an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the language by learning about your kai and te reo Māori, a fundamental part of our Māori culture,” said Ngatai.
Kete Kai, made with support from Te Māngai Pāho, will run every Wednesday for ten consecutive weeks from 7 June and can be viewed on Bargain Box’s Instagram reels and TikTok.
It’s easy for Kiwis to get involved, all customers have to do is ‘swipe up’ on the episode or head to the Bargain Box website, and they can order the same meal to cook at home while practising the phrases they learnt throughout the episode.
The Bargain Box recipe cards for the select Kete Kai meals will incorporate English and te reo Māori in the title, steps, and sub-headers. A full te reo version can be viewed digitally through a QR code on the recipe.
Trish Whitwell, Head of Innovation at Bargain Box’s parent company, My Food Bag, said it was a privilege to be part of an innovation that supports the use of te reo Māori.
“We’re excited to play a role in supporting and encouraging Kiwis to learn te reo. What better way to do it than in the kitchen, where it’s accessible and the whole family can get involved. It’s been a rewarding experience for the team to work alongside Sonny to make this possible for Kiwis,” said Whitwell.
The Kete Kai recipes that are available to order from Bargain Box between 5 June – 6 August include Cheesy French Onion Beef Meatballs with Mash & Greens, Ultimate Corn & Courgette Tart, Crispy Crumbed Fish Fingers, 20-Minute Italian-Style Chicken Rolls, Saucy Beef Korma Curry, Cheat’s Cauli Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Low Carb Chicken Chop Salad, 20-Minute, Gingery Pork Lettuce Cups, Fragrant Veggie Curry Hot Pot, Balanced Greek Baked Chicken.
