Ko Pirongia te Maunga

Ko Kaawhia Moana

Ko Kaawhia Kai

Ko Kaawhia Taangata

Ko Tainui te Waka

Ko Ngaati Maniapoto te Iwi

Ko Ngaati Ngutu te Hapuu

Ko Te Maania Raakauni te Marae

Ko Moana Kahakore te Whare Tuupuna

Ko Nelson, Te Waraki, Maupakanga, Piripi ngaa ingoa whaanau.

Ngaa mihi Reo Maaori for allowing us to be part of this haerenga.

I am excited that my uri get to open this taonga in 50 years 2075. Sadly, I will have returned to be with Matua Nui i te Rangi but I want my uri to know how important it is to speak the reo, to keep the reo alive. Many have tried to eradicate our reo, heoi, we have kept it alive by being Maaori all day every day. Our reo is us and we are the reo.

Kupu are not jut words, they are significant, they have great meaning. We can utilise one kupu to empower whaanau to become self-sufficient, resilient and to know their value. Our kupu is life and breathes life into all that we do. Kia kaha i te reo Maaori. Be proud to be Maaori, be Maaori all day everyday. Under the guidance of Te Ariki Nui Kuini Ngawai Hono i te Po (Rire rire hau pai maarire) our reo will continue to thrive. Heoi, Nurture te reo, koorero te reo, ia raa, ia wiki, ia marama, ia tau, ake ake tonu, our forever language.