My dad - he wont sit near a paepae. Hes 65 - and Ive never heard him utter much Te Reo Maaori and I always wondered why? Later I learned - he had it thrashed out of him at kura, at church and at places and spaces where colonial control was the cursor! The loss of language has impacted how he is and who he thinks he can be - that legacy chain stops with me. Im still learning - and my babies will have more pride they can identify with in how we learn together. I dont ever feel whakama about using our reo - and anyone who pulls a face will get a pukana back! Its who we are - and how I honour the sacrafices made for us at Rangiriri! Ka ora tonu taatou - mo ake ake ake!