Ko Pironga te māunga
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Ngāpuhi tōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto tōku hapū
No Kirikiriroa Ahau
Ko Rangimarie Me Te Aroha Pira tōku ingoa.
Te Reo Māori means a lot to me, it is something I hold closely to my heart as someone who wasn’t fully immersed in it growing up. I was an OT child grew up in a white home. Went to very religious schools that didn’t prioritise Te Reo Māori. As much back then. Was seen as this fake Māori girl because I didn’t know as much Māori as the other Māori kids, but I still hold it so close to my heart because it so beautiful and it’s a way for me to stay connected even if I only know the basics. To feel like I’m still one with my culture. I hope to grow into my Māori knowledge and self and just continue to engage and learn every day. I hope that the future of. Māori culture is never forgotten and is forever spoken. It is amazing to read about and learn about the things that our people have gone through and still continue to go through it. Just in a different concept it’s crazy. I hope that in 50 years we are better off as Māori for our culture for our rights for our wards I hope it works out. I hope that the racist government that is current doesn’t get their way with taking over the treaty and and taking out Māori in our curriculums. It is so beneficial for children to learn about the culture that they are living within. And I hope to learn through that and through them and through those who are so knowledgeable.
