Whilst I don't think that I whakapapa Māori, by children do through their fathers. I also believe that te reo is the language of our country and should be celebrated, learnt and cherished by us all. Learning te reo means so much to me, it has not only opened up more pathways for my tamariki and I but has also helped me find myself and given me the courage to learn about where my ancestors came from, and even start learning another new language, Gàidhlig (Scots Gaelic), another language almost lost. I encourage all people from Aotearoa to learn. It is important, and it may just help you learn more about yourself too