I am a Kiwi and Te Reo Māori is one of the national languages of my country: as a citizen I should know it. I am a teacher of Aotearoa New Zealand histories and cannot possibly understand the past of this land in English only. I have put my name to an agreement that says I will do my best by all students that I am assigned to teach and I can do this best by seeking to understand the cultures of this land. Culture can only be deeply, truly understood through language. I am old(er) and believe that it shouldn't be left to the younger generations to rectify all the issues created in the past. Even if I never get to speak or use te Reo Māori in my life or my career, I want to show my children that it matters to learn: "Be the change you want to see". I would love to see all Kiwis taught from a young age to be fluent in all our national languages. What an inclusive nation we would be. My family have been here for many generations, it's about bloody time we learned. I live on this land and it is an incredible joy to begin to understand its stories. These stories are held in trust by Reo Māori.