I am pākeha. My recovery from PTSD due to military service started on my wife’s marae which became my āhuru mōwai. Learning te reo allows me to be more comfortable in te Ao Māori which includes history and Tikanga. It centres me and allows me to give back to those who supported me during dark days. A question was posed to me at the beginning of- if Māori had no written language, how did they know the North Island, Te Ika a Mauī was shaped like a fish. This question continues to provide the inspiration of maintaining an open mind to all things in life. And as such my recovery continues. Ngā mihi nui