In 1972, 50 years ago, I was at Teachers' Secondary College in Tamaki Makau Rau. The lecturers for our te reo Maori class were the illustrious Dame Mira Szaszy and Sir Tamati Reedy. In our te reo Maori class were Hirini Melbourne and John Moorfield. In 1972 I was surrounded by the giants of te reo Maori. The build-up to the presentation of the Maori Language Petition and to the first celebration of te ra o te reo Maori was very exciting and inspiring. I was very much a new learner of te reo, having sneaked into the class because of my 2 years of learning at te Whare Wananga o Waikato with the awesome language teacher, Sir Timoti (aka Sam) Karetu. I was in Sam's first two years of teaching, at the Wananga 1970 and 1971. Sam generously took our class to stay on his home marae in Ruatahuna and up to Maungapohatu to learn and soak up the exceptional and heroic life of Rua Kenana.
So 2022 is not only a great celebration for te Reo Maori, but also a personal celebration. 50 years ago in 1972 I became a life -long learner of Te Reo Maori. I pay tribute to all those rangatira who set me on that journey.
Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland | Auckland | 1970-79 | Māori language petition | Education
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