Languages
Language resources you can access with your library card. Also included on this page are a number of freely available websites that can be accessed without a library card login.
Explore our language related resources
Photo from a past Diwali story time at Ngā Puna Waiora | Newtown Library
Language related events
Here at the library, we love to celebrate the many languages spoken here in Wellington. Check our calendar for regular gatherings, such as Tea and Tales (Mandarin) and Cuentacuentos (Storytimes in Spanish), as well as special events during our local language weeks and cultural celebrations.
Events that involve learning and speaking Te Reo Māori can be found here.
Learning a language at the library
We have some language learning kits available at the library. To explore this collection, try searching the phrase "language kit" with the name of your chosen language on our catalogue here.
For those wanting to learn Te Reo Māori, you can find our resources here.
If you are interested in learning English, you can also find some helpful eResources below, or you can visit our Learning English page here.
Below, you can also find some eLibrary resources to assist you on your language learning journey, as well as eResources that hold world language publications.
-
Mango Languages
Learn a new language with Mango Languages! Access interactive lessons for over 70 languages and start speaking today. -
-
Bridget Williams Books - New Zealand Sign Language Collection
The collection includes two titles by Rachel McKee: New Zealand Sign Language – A Reference Grammar, and People of the Eye – Stories from the Deaf World. -
Clear Pronunciation 1
The Clear Pronunciation programme introduces the 43 sounds of English. Listen, learn and practice using a range of online tools – sound clips, video clips, activities and assessments. In Level 1, learn to recognise and pronounce the full range of sounds by themselves, in words, sentences, and in larger texts. -
Clear Pronunciation 2
The Clear Pronunciation programme introduces the 43 sounds of English. Listen, learn and practice using a range of online tools – sound clips, video clips, activities and assessments. In Level 2, put the 43 sounds of English together in clear, intelligible speech. The programme covers consonant clusters, word stress, sentence stress, connected speech and intonation. -
Dragonsource
Dragonsource provides access to hundreds of Chinese language magazines in both simplified and traditional Chinese for online reading. -
LanguageNut
LanguageNut is a fun way to learn different languages for kids and adults. There are songs, stories and games for each language so you’ll be adding to your vocabulary without really realising it! To get started, enter your library card number into the box on the site labelled “barcode.” -
Māori Language.net
Māori Language.net was started in 2007 with some funding by Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) through their Mā Te Reo fund. Its aim was to be a base for the basics of Māori Language and has involvement from Scotty Morrison. -
Mahau App
Mahau is a free, simple, interactive app to help residents and visitors to Wellington to get started on their reo Māori journey. It was developed by Wellington City Council alongside Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Taranaki Whānui, and includes sections of the dialects, and introductory information about the iwi. -
New Zealand Sign Language
Information about New Zealand sign language, which is an official language in New Zealand. -
Niupepa: Māori Newspapers Digital Collection
The Niupepa: Māori Newspapers Digital Collection is an electronic collection of over 17,000 pages taken from 34 separate periodicals. Most of the titles originally available through this project are now available through Papers Past – to find all the Niupepa titles available, scroll down to the ‘Māori Newspapers’ section of About Papers Past. -
Rongo app
Tai Tokerau’s Te Hiku Media has launched an app called ‘Rongo’ to support te reo learners with their pronunciation. The app has been designed to get more people to speak te reo Māori without feeling whakamā about working on the pronunciation. Although the app is currently only available for iOS, an Android version is also planned. -
Te Aka - Māori Dictionary Project
Search the Māori dictionary with the online version of Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index. A comprehensive, online bilingual dictionary that includes encyclopaedic entries, idioms and grammatical explanations.