Share your why

Debbie

Posted by Debbie Keung · August 28, 2021 7:47 PM

As Māori to fill the part of me that I have always felt was missing.

Michele | auckland

Posted by Michele Gerbic · August 28, 2021 7:10 PM

We will take part in some Te Reo lessons , and then try using what we have learnt in our daily conversations.

Lavinia

Posted by Lavinia Taylor · August 28, 2021 11:55 AM

To share our beautiful and unique language ensures its survival for generations to come.

Sarah | Wellington

Posted by Sarah Stratton · August 28, 2021 11:23 AM

To honour my tīpuna and my tama.

Everlyne | Eketahuna

Posted by Everlyne Chase · August 28, 2021 10:10 AM

Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre staff are kaitiaki for many taonga and it is becoming more important for those who work and visit Pūkaha to understand our culture, heritage and our past, so that we can ensure that our future will be stronger in the values passed on.

Deb | Waikanae

Posted by Deb Burton · August 27, 2021 5:00 PM

I want to visit my son, his wife and new baby Maia in Brazil, and Māori vowels are the same there, so I can say some things.

Leah | Auckland

Posted by Leah Mathews · August 27, 2021 2:47 PM

I grew up disconnected from my Māori family and have a yearning to belong, and understand my language and whakapapa.

Shari | Masterton

Posted by Shari Taylor · August 27, 2021 2:07 PM

He Māori ahau….

Imogen

Posted by Imogen Leenders · August 26, 2021 8:40 PM

I am on a journey to learn Te Reo and I am excited to join Aotearoa in this moment.

Bianca Dené | Christchurch

Posted by Bianca Dené Williams · August 26, 2021 7:05 PM

My son was born here .

Mihi | Wellington

Posted by Mihi Carlson · August 23, 2021 12:29 PM

Doing this for me and my mokopuna - the loves of my life

Helen

Posted by Helen Parker · August 23, 2021 7:47 AM

As a UK immigrant to Aotearoa and have purposefully learnt more about the history and impact of colonisation I want to do all I can to support the indigenous language and culture flourish.

Rangi Ruru | Otautahi

Posted by Sherrilee Herangi-Harrison · August 22, 2021 8:54 PM

Tēnā tātou katoa.

Sharlene

Posted by Sharlene Robinson · August 22, 2021 8:39 AM

My heritage is my why.

Jane

Posted by Jane Muldowney · August 21, 2021 1:48 PM

Because as a ‘tauiwi’ it is important that I learn the official language of Aotearoa.

Raymond

Posted by Raymond Faulkner · August 21, 2021 1:06 PM

We are a socially responsible business, we are part of Aotearoa DNA, and we want Aotearoa to be a part of our DNA.

Ashley

Posted by Ashley Henwood · August 20, 2021 12:02 PM

Working in an early childhood centre, I think it’s really important that our Māori and non-Māori tamariki are exposed to Māori culture from a young age.

Te Rerenga

Posted by Te Rerenga Walker · August 20, 2021 10:43 AM

Kia ora ai te wairua Maori me te aroha ki to tatou reo me ona tikanga.

Adrianne

Posted by Adrianne Wilson · August 20, 2021 7:49 AM

Because as a volunteer I would dearly love to use te reo in my interactions with the public more confidently.

Mahingarangi

Posted by · August 19, 2021 10:05 PM

To understand the whaikorero on te marae.

Kathleen | Paraparaumu

Posted by Kathleen Kupa · August 19, 2021 5:11 PM

Lesley | New Plymouth

Posted by Lesley Maher · August 18, 2021 12:19 PM

I want to be better at my job.

Sophia | Tāmaki Makaurau

Posted by Sophia McCarten · August 14, 2021 8:19 PM

I want to be the kind of Pākehā the tangata whenua thought they were getting when they signed Te Tiriti.

Jayde | Auckland

Posted by Jayde Mitai · August 10, 2021 1:44 PM

For my whānau and our future generations.

Āria | Ōkato

Posted by Āria Broughton · August 06, 2021 9:54 AM

Ko te reo Māori te reo o ōku tūpuna!

Pouaka

Posted by Pou Parore · July 27, 2021 9:00 PM

I want to educate myself so I can educate my little one

Huia | Auckland

Posted by Huia Hamon · July 27, 2021 5:10 PM

We, in Aotearoa are the kaitiaki of te reo Māori, from our rivers to our maunga, to our people, te reo Māori is for everyone to give us connection and meaning.

Waati

Posted by waati ormsby · July 27, 2021 11:49 AM

We feel in times of hope happiness bountiful produce used for health and wellbeing.

Xiaoran

Posted by Xiaoran Wei · July 25, 2021 3:29 PM

My why is I want to be able to include Māori culture and language myself in my ECE sector as a Kaiako/teacher.

Leslie

Posted by Leslie Katterns · July 16, 2021 8:54 PM

My why is my whanau my tamariki .

Charles

Posted by Charles Misquitta · July 12, 2021 2:15 PM

As an immigrant coming from a far away land, I have started to realize that many countries that got colonized, had a problem with using their native tongue in schools etc as a result native languages got lost.

Trina

Posted by Trina Mora-Kelley · July 12, 2021 5:31 AM

I want to see all my whānau honour the Treaty through learning Te reo Māori, tikanga, Te Ao & a celebration at Matariki is the best time for this.

Ramandeep

Posted by Ramandeep Kaur · July 10, 2021 11:07 PM

I work as a coordinator and my work is to connect people of different communities sono would like to enhance my knowledge and skills by learning Te reo and this way I can teach my kids also and would be able to prepare them for their future before enrolling in school.

Ani | Tauranga Moana

Posted by Ani Rikirangi · July 10, 2021 5:30 PM

Wāhine Māori.. a second language learner.. Like anything in life.. it’s not until you no longer have something do you value or cherish it.

Priscilla

Posted by Priscilla Allan · July 10, 2021 12:23 PM

I have lived my whole life in Aotearoa, I need to learn Te Reo in order to embrace my identity as a kiwi.

Hannah

Posted by Hannah Kuriger · July 10, 2021 9:19 AM

I'm learning te reo for my kids and myself.

Leonie | Rotorua

Posted by Leonie Ahipene · July 09, 2021 7:10 AM

I’m now a Nana at 50 and it brings me joy that it’s never to late to learn and participate in our own language with my moko ☺️

Ben

Posted by Benge Davies · July 07, 2021 11:34 PM

Tēnā koe .

Karo | Christchurch

Posted by Karo Bedford · July 07, 2021 10:05 AM

I feel like I want to really connect with my New Zealand roots.

Charlotte | Nelson

Posted by Charlotte Blick · July 06, 2021 11:29 AM

I have been attending a nightclass in Te Reo Māori this year at Nelson polytechnic - it runs for the full year.

ingrid

Posted by ingrid herbert · July 05, 2021 11:11 PM

to honour my ancestors and it is a part of who I am

Haylee

Posted by Haylee scott · July 03, 2021 1:43 PM

It’s about the Kia KAHA Te reo I nga wa KATOA

Leeann | Lower Hutt

Posted by Leeann Worrall · July 03, 2021 1:41 PM

It just feels right for me now.

Whaea Lynda

Posted by Lynda Finn · July 02, 2021 11:08 PM

I have been trying to learn te reo rangatira because:

Julie

Posted by Julie Herron · July 02, 2021 9:32 PM

I want to feel more connected to my country Aotearoa, in every way possible, and to show gratitude to each and every person

Sharlee

Posted by Sharlee Mareikura · June 30, 2021 7:22 PM

Tēnā tātou.

Julie | Christchurch

Posted by Julie Downard · June 30, 2021 2:34 PM

I want to speak Te Reo because it's the original language of my country.

Karen | Palmerston North

Posted by Karen Kahukoti · June 30, 2021 1:59 PM

to confidently participate in te ao Māori, I ensured my boys were nurtured in te ao Māori now I want to do me, as Rhonda Kite said "women tend to find their feet later in life, we take care of everyone else and then it's our turn"

Lenora | Whangaparaoa

Posted by Lenora Skinner · June 18, 2021 11:01 AM

E tika ana te kōrero o ōku tupuna: Toku reo, toku ohooho.

Ann | Lower Hutt

Posted by Ann Pibal · June 14, 2021 11:56 AM

I am driven to learn Maori because it is part of me It will take me a long time but it will be worth it.

Kaya | Pukekohe

Posted by Kaya Tanoa-Kaivananga · June 06, 2021 10:05 PM

Last year, my why was not to feel so whakama about not speaking Te Reo Māori.

Andrea | Turanganui-a-kiwa

Posted by Andrea Griffiths · May 31, 2021 4:04 PM

Kia ora ko Andrea toku ingoa .

Daniel | Wellington

Posted by Daniel Millar · May 31, 2021 10:48 AM

Respect our own country's culture

Pete | Pōneke

Posted by Pete Jacobson · May 28, 2021 4:18 PM

He tōiriiri ki au te reo Māori.

Linley | Alexandra

Posted by Linley Hattrill · May 13, 2021 10:01 AM

For the team at Dunstan Educare it is vital for us to be role-modeling Te Reo Maori, and to be continually improving our Reo.

Arina | Maungaturoto

Posted by Arina Bosch · May 13, 2021 9:56 AM

I want to understand the reo of my tūpuna, and pass it on to my tamariki.

Mason | Auckland

Posted by Mason Ngawhika · May 13, 2021 9:11 AM

Im not 100% sure why Ive dedicated a huge part of my life to te reo, however, I was just so motivated to learn.

Jenny-Lee | Huntly

Posted by Jenny-Lee Jakeman-Beckham · May 13, 2021 7:02 AM

Tooku Reo tooku ohooho tooku Reo tooku mapihi maurea ~ I am currently on my Te Reo journey at TWoA, for myself, my whaanau and carrying the legacy of my tuupuna 💕 I teach my tamariki at home, Te Reo is apart of our everyday koorero.

Claudia | Auckland

Posted by Claudia Vita · May 12, 2021 9:42 PM

Firstly, gratitude to the Land that welcomed my family and I with open arms.

Claire | Lashio

Posted by Claire · May 12, 2021 5:33 PM

I didn't know much about this language, until I met a guy from NZ .

Julie

Posted by Julie Voss · May 12, 2021 5:01 PM

I am learning te reo because it is such a huge part of being a kiwi and our cultural identity.

Floyd | Wellington

Posted by Floyd Norman · May 12, 2021 12:23 PM

I want it back because it reminds me of my grandmother and I want to connect with my roots more.

Kylie

Posted by Kylie Bensemann · May 12, 2021 10:50 AM

I'm on a journey to learn te reo Māori so I can better serve Māori in my mahi (digital communications) and engage on a deeper, cultural level with tangata whenua and community.

Toni

Posted by Toni Wairama · May 11, 2021 11:46 PM

The last 8 years I have learnt from many resources ie, kaumatua, all my friends, I enrolled online to a course learning te reo Maori, Tikanga, Correct kaupapa, Rawa, Karakia, and lots of Waiata.

Ana | Canberra

Posted by Ana Foley · May 11, 2021 9:53 PM

I want to share my culture and language with my grandchildren.

Rua

Posted by Rua Eagle · May 11, 2021 8:06 PM

Whats my why? My why is because I was adopted to a pakeha whānau who knew that learning our culture was something they could not do.

Sonny | Auckland

Posted by Sonny Teio · May 11, 2021 5:25 PM

I am learning te reo to be a better example for my children and the generations ahead in our whakapapa.

Moana | Auckland

Posted by Moana Manu · May 11, 2021 3:16 PM

It is vital that I learn Te Reo Maori because I am employed by a Maori Organisation here in NZ, called National Hauora Coalition a Primary Health Organisation.

Joanne | Auckland

Posted by Joanne Kelly · May 11, 2021 1:51 PM

My grand children are learning Maori and have inspired me.

Karla | Dunedin

Posted by Karla Lawrie · May 11, 2021 7:23 AM

Continuing on my Reo Maori journey is important for my job working with kohungahunga in a childcare.

Michael

Posted by Michael Zandbergen · May 10, 2021 11:09 PM

Ko te reo Māori te kākaha o te whakaaro, te huarahi i te ao tūroa.

Lee-Ann | Auckland

Posted by Lee-Ann Tutengaehe · May 10, 2021 6:58 PM

I need to show how proud I am and how lucky we are to have our own native language.

Polly

Posted by Polly Hutchinson · May 10, 2021 3:10 PM

It's important to honour and respect our first people, to try to make things better after the ugly colonisation that my ancestors were a part of.

Haider

Posted by Haider Khan · May 10, 2021 2:46 PM

The taonga that is te reo Māori can be a living gift to our future generations if we all become part of this movement.

Marina | Wellington

Posted by Marina Wilmerstadt · May 10, 2021 1:44 PM

Ray | Dunedin

Posted by Ray Spence · May 10, 2021 1:29 PM

I'm a first generation NZer and proud to be part of this beautiful whenua with its rich and spiritual heritage.

Claire | Te Awakairangi

Posted by Claire McGoff · May 10, 2021 1:09 PM

It is one of our country's national language, we need to normalise it's use.

Christie | Wairoa

Posted by Christie Dwyer · May 10, 2021 12:36 PM

Because I want to be at my Marae, listening to the stories of the days gone past and of the people who have passed on too but I want to be able to understand FULLY these stories.

Rosalie | Tauranga

Posted by Rosalie Dann · May 10, 2021 12:16 PM

I am not Tāngata Whenua but Aotearoa is my home.

Janet | Wellington

Posted by · May 10, 2021 11:58 AM

As a pākeha, it is my responsibility to not repeat the harm that my tīpuna created - out of ignorance or intent.

Marion | Auckland

Posted by Marion Dixon · May 10, 2021 11:33 AM

I want to be able to understand and speak (albeit a little) of the language out of respect for tangata whenua.

Ahlene | Tokoroa

Posted by Ahlene Hemi · May 10, 2021 11:09 AM

Like so many other people my age we were taught that we needed to discard our Māori identity in order to make it in the pakeha world.

Rosemary

Posted by Rosemary Such · May 10, 2021 11:03 AM

I have always felt a connection with, and great pride in Aotearoa's Māori heritage.

Don | Ōkaihau

Posted by Don Martin · May 10, 2021 10:19 AM

Learning te Ao Māori is for me being a complete New Zealander, ngā mihi ki a koutou.

Kathleen | Porirua

Posted by Kathleen Kupa · May 10, 2021 9:49 AM

Te Reo Māori is apart of me myself and I.

Kane | Auckland

Posted by Kane Wilson · May 10, 2021 9:38 AM

Sociologically, Maori is our indigenous language so we need to protect and nurture it.

Marilyn | Greytown

Posted by Marilyn Roberts · May 10, 2021 8:56 AM

My answer is.....why not!

Andrea

Posted by Andrea Horne-McCrostie · May 10, 2021 6:42 AM

This is the reo of this whenua, this whenua has nurtured tōku whānau for 5 generations.

huhana | wellington

Posted by huhana Maddock · May 10, 2021 6:35 AM

Kia ora, Kaore au i te maia.

Cathy | Auckland

Posted by Cathy Ruka · May 10, 2021 12:06 AM

Kia ora.

Ruth | Lincoln

Posted by Ruth Davey · May 09, 2021 6:53 PM

I am a polyglot - someone who enjoys learning to speak other languages.

Arnold | Tamaki Makaurau

Posted by arnold tupe · May 09, 2021 6:23 PM

E kore matou e ngaro ana to tatou reo i te mea oku nei whakaaro e ki mai te tiriti o tatou tupuna kia ora ai matou te iwi maori tata ake ki te iwi pakeha ara he mahi tahi tatou ki nga mea whakahirahira nga mea katoa kia tipu ake tatou tetahi ki tetahi atu ano hoki ki te hapai mai ki te whakatika aua korero aua panui hoki me ako tonu tena ka mahi tahi tatou