I remember when I was 9 years old, and the idot Goverment at the time stopped Te Reo Māori being spoken and no more Carving or weaving was allowed. Just think I may not be writing this if we had not been stopped, I could have been fluent and a Master Carver? I'll never forget our Headmaster at Maketū School Mr Ian Gibson telling us no more Māori is to be spoken, he was crying as he told us. We would sing the National Anthem in Māori and English and I might add he was Pakeha and an awesome Teacher. We had a mixed school at the time and everyone loved learning all to do with Te Reo Māori. My koro would not teach me, he was a Hero in the 1st World War, his reason I later found out was they were whipped or put in Jail. My mother was fluent and she would not teach me thats how scared they were. My wife is Pakeha and we decided to move to the Hawkes Bay and send our 3 Sons to Te Aute Kāreti so as to learn their Reo. Last year I enrolled in Level 2 Te Reo Māori in Maketū, this year I would have done level 3 but have been unwell so I pulled out. I Passed last year but I did miss a few classes thru sickness so I may have struggled this year? Kia pai te rā hai konā.