As a pākeha, it is my responsibility to not repeat the harm that my tīpuna created - out of ignorance or intent. It also is one way I can show respect to tangata whenua and invite a genuine connection. I need to do this mahi first - Māori have done their bit! Learning te reo Māori is not just about language to me, it's about whakataukī, empathy, storytelling, and identify for everyone. Plus, I LOVE the way te reo sounds. It grounds me a place of meaning in my own life, and sends me to new ways of connecting and feeling. Learing te reo Māori is both a political and a person act. Every pākeha must start and/or continue their journey. Enough is enough.
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