Learning and sharing te reo Māori is an act of claiming my heritage. It gives me a sense of hononga and whakapehapeha, and a way to engage with who I am and where I come from.

I am Ngāpuhi, and this is something I am still learning about. I was adopted and raised in a non-Māori household, and only learned later in life that I am Māori. While this was not part of my upbringing, it is a part of me that feels important to embrace and to actively engage with my whakapapa.

Te reo Māori gives me maia and a sense of tūrangawaewae, a place to stand. It allows me to honour my tīpuna and the stories that belong to my whakapapa. What once felt distant now feels present and meaningful.

Sharing te reo matters to me because it helps whakanoa its use and reflects respect for te ao Māori. I hope it encourages others to know that learning is more important than perfection. Even imperfect words, spoken with intention, carry mana.