Te pae kōrero | Our why

There are many things that define New Zealanders and connect us to our home: and te reo Māori is one of them.

Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to learn te reo and see it become normalised and spoken nationwide. Explore them below and share your favourites to inspire others to get involved.


Add your 'why'

As a child I grew up speaking other languages, and from what I could see colonization had done an awful job of restoring the people it hurt. Since my childhood, I was always drawn to Māori culture. Even being continents apart. This world has much to learn in the way it treats its people. Division has always been the tool of oppression. Yet, when I see all of the beautiful Māori Iwi I see strength, unity, love and understanding. I see a culture rich with diversity. A culture that is dedicated to the fabric of understanding the essence of who we were (our ancestors, where we came from), where we are (Who we are and why), and where we are headed! These were the very principles I was raised on. Above all, taking care of our youth, really is the most important task. They are our future! So, with my love for Māori people and passion for cultural preservation, with my work in music, cultural development and education here in the states, I hope that I can one day, aide or assist future Māori along their journey in a positive way conducive to their cultural preservation.

Edem
Taisha
Kristin

I want to encourage others to learn Te Reo Māori.

Kristin

I recall my mother saying she was told that ‘the Pākehā way was the only way’ from her parents and her school teachers so I didn ot grow up valuing its true importance. I’ve learned just how important a taonga it truly is to our people and as a white woman with whakapapa (WWWW) I do my best (which isn’t always as progressive as I’d like it to be) to honour my tūpuna and my Ātua by using te reo whenever I can. I want to normalise it’s use in my workplace, which inhouse is predominantly pākehā but our ‘customers’ are predominantly māori, some who have come from a similar place as my mother and others who are completely immersed. I’m privileged to have a wide range of opportunities to learn and teach, Akonga! ! !

Kristin

Having studied at beginner level I want to continue my learning journey with te reo Māori.

Claire

I asked for my birthday this year to have Te Reo Māori lessons (basic) as I don’t know much of my language. Now I am on this ride I want to keep it up and ensure our future generations (including my own) continue to learn. Ka mau te wehi.

Kristin

It is an honour to be speaking the language my tipuna once spoke, and I hope to keep the language alive for the many generations to follow so that my uni will one day be thinking back on my reo as inspiration and motivation to continue to kōrero Māori!

Kristin

I’ve spent many years trying to piece together my identity, my whakapapa, finding my marae, visiting my turangawaewae, meeting whanau I didnt know, and slowly piecing together what I now know – including this beautiful language. My why is my love and passion for my culture, my mihi to those who came before us, who fought for us to korero, those who continue to fight the forces of oppression, but also those who don’t know our kupu, those still piecing their whakapapa together, those who are still stuck under the whakama of not knowing, and all the many journeys our people have (and continue) to walk. My why is also my intergenerational trauma, my whakama, my white skin, my rainbow identity, my disabilities, the everything and anything that makes me me. My why is ME.

Kristin

If we don’t acknowledge and speak the language then we run the risk of losing it and that would be devastating.

Kristin