I was at an elders lunch put on by the Salvation Army. Mixed cultures of about 80 people. At noon, the Pastor asked if anyone knew what was special about this week. Silence.

I put up my hand, ' Ko tenei te Wiki o Te Reo Maori' and was asked to explain macrons and what a waiata was and invited to sing.

I sang 'Ka pīoioi ' and explained how Matua Kereopa Ratapu wrote it about his joyful home-coming.