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'

My whānau have been disconnected from our taha Māori and our reo for generations. He mea ātaahua ki te tū Māori, ki te kōrero Māori. Ko te ora o te ao Māori ko te ora o te reo Māori. Ko taku tūmanako, ki ōku kōrero o te reo Māori, ka whakahaumanutia te mana Māori o tōku whānau

Teenaa koutou katoa, kei te tino koakoa ahau ki te uru mai ki teenei kaupapa. Ko taku muri aroha ki te reo o taatou tupuna, ko taku kaingaakau me taku aroha. Ko taku mahi te pou ruruku o Raukura Hauora o Tainui ki Taamaki o ngaa rongoaa Maaori.

At Waimanako; our kai for koha cafe, we want to honour the taonga that is Te Reo. We will encouraging people to order their kai in reo to mark the week and putting out a guide on how to pronounce māori words correctly and much encouragement to give our first language a go!

We are the children for tomorrow.

Kia ora as Tangata Tiriti, I have an obligation to acknowledge and support the tinorangatiratanga of Tangata Whenua. Learning and using Te Reo is one way I can do this. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

I want to learn more about te reo to deepen my connection with my daughter and engage with her in a language she loves and feels comfortable speaking. Being able to converse with her in te reo would not only enhance our relationship but also allow me to share experiences and cultural heritage. It will enrich our conversation, create lasting memories, and help me support her as she navigates her identity. By embracing te reo, I hope to foster a meaningful bond and show my commitment to valuing her language and culture

As Pākehā, I believe in practicing te reo because it is a way to honor and acknowledge the tangata whenua. Learning and using reo helps me connect more deeply with the rich history, culture, and values of Aotearoa. It fosters mutual respect and understanding, and contributes to the preservation and revitalisation of a vital part of New Zealand’s heritage. Embracing te reo, is one way I can help to contribute to a more inclusive and unified society.

Maori Sign Concepts Development programmes 2024

Looking forward to connecting through sharing our pepeha together at our upcoming hui :)

My tupuna, Mereana Ngamai, lived with Cpt. James Harrison on Kapiti Island. Although I've known this I was surprised when the Kaiako from Ako Academy said 'that makes you maori'. I'm still trying to understand what that means for me. Part of it involves being more able in Te Reo.

Kia ora, ko Abbey toku ingoa. I am a complete novice, but I would like to participate in Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori to encourage speaking and hearing Te Reo to be a normal part of life in NZ. I want to expose my young daughter to her native language and support her with opportunities to lean as the past two generations of her Maori family have not had this support.

It is my birth right to have Te Reo Maaori. To be confident in who I am as an individual.

Māori language and culture are a huge part of what makes Aotearoa special. I want to deepen my understanding of te reo and tikanga Māori, and build confidence in practicing them so I can also support others in improving their skills.

I thought for a long time Te Reo belonged to Māori, but it doesn't. It belongs to every New Zealander. I can play my part in keeping the language alive by learning Te Reo and now as a public servant, I feel I have a duty to do so. As a strong woman, who is following in the footsteps of women who haven't been afraid to use their voice, I too mustn't be afraid to use mine, and to set an example for my daughter and hopefully one day my mokopuna to do the same.

He Taonga Aroha mo nga Mokopuna e whai ake nei! !

Kei te pīrangi au ki te kōrero i te reo Māori ki tāku whānau whānui. I'd like to be able to speak in the Māori language with my wider family.

I'm from Switzerland which has four official languages, German, French, Italian and Romantsch, a language that is close to extinction and has had to be nurtured to ensure its survival - much like te reo. Languages hold immense value in terms of history, culture and connection, and we must preserve them. Thus I deeply support te reo and do my very best to learn as much as I can. :-)

Earlier in the year our tamariki made a bilingual mural around hākinakina at Turitea School. It has over 25 kupu for all of the different sports and actions we do at kura everyday.

As an immigrant, kaiako, and mama to a boy with Māori ancestry, learning and speaking te reo Māori in our everyday life is a top priority. It's a sign of respect to tangata whenua and my husband's whānau's tūpuna and mana. Some of my boy's first words have been in te reo Māori! It's brought us so much joy.

Hearty from the Heart Foundation and I will be attending a hangi at Milford Kindergarten to celebrate their 6th Pā-Harakeke Tohu Manawa Ora, based on the Te Whāriki strands of learning. Ka mau te wehi!

For those before me who were silenced for speaking Te Reo Māori and for those after me- A Forever Language

Nāku te waimārie, I am so lucky to be able to kōrero i te reo Māori <3 I whakapapa and I want tāku tamaiti to kōrero with confidence. tōku reo tōku ohooho!

A language reflects the culture of a people. A thriving language means a blossoming culture and I 'd like to be part of that.

Because learning Te Reo has given me a sense of belonging to Aotearoa

Whakahiriri na Taku mokopuna mo nga 🎤waiata Mai 🎶Hokowhitu Atu🎶🎵 🎵Te Whanau a Apanui 🎶 🎶Ngai Tai🎵Te Rarawa🎶 🎶🎶 I a Ra ☀️🎶🎶🎶 I a Po 🌙 🫶🏾Mo Ake Tonu🫶🏾 Mai EAST🖤🤍♥️35

Kia ora koutou. Here is a photo of the gift bags made for our tamariki and their whānau at Tūī Park Kindergarten as a koha for te wiki o te reo Māori. Each tamaiti gets a set of Māori theme cards, pukapuka and resource sheet booklet.

Sadly I grew up in a non speaking Māori environment. Going home to my marae I want to be able to korero Māori with my whānau. I’m able to understand more than I can korero. My whakapapa is my why, my whānau is my why and for myself.

By so doing , to connect people in Taiwan and Maaori so both can learn from each other.

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Mana Tapu kanohi ki te kanohi Barbier-Paradoxon “You can define the barber as ‘one who shaves all those, and those only, who do not shave themselves. ’ The question is, does the barber shave himself?” Te Roa META vs. Equal or 70 vs. Te Roa Author Jorge Bo Smid alias Jogy Bo In suggestion & consideration of all Aotearoa & ACT Treaty Opposition I do have my urgent epistemology based on facts, evidence and rebirth in Pohara Marae Maungatautari, that prove the absolute imperialism to the following Treaty by Te Tiriti o Waitangi (known in English as the Treaty of Waitangi), or pseudo agreement made in 1840 between representatives of the British Crown. The healing in Pohara gave me new Life in 2009 and has also prevented me from suicide. The Mana Or the knowing of one's Mana and usage. Craig Schaumkell Pohara Marae gave me a mission in 2009 in the land of wharenui is Rangiātea. Here I am as a messenger, just in time and after 15 years, to hopefully be the connecting dot of reaching a mutual global understanding and establishing of an equality based leading authority/democracy government, rather than a hierarchy and its pseudo implementation of believing anything before understanding. In particular in relation to non identifiable mutual content to be understood in order to and to origin of constitutional authority. Cause for Cause , does not apply for the Treaty authority believes nor understanding, which was, is and hopefully will be a requirement for any mutual agreement on any meta level communication. As Te Roa nor Maori culture has no higher authority nor understanding as such, nor would understand and therefore not expect an unfair assessment, outcome nor unbalance in conflict resolution, The treaty is invalid based on simple contradiction to many laws such as fair use or intellectual property rights, which are constitutional rights. Today nations, facts and today's laws, have lead to agreements which have been signed, national continental and world wide such as Vienna Convention: Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969 Assessment An imbalance to be considered not only in authority bodies and their conflicts, their decision making and our environment nature itself. All humans deeply connect those and respect them as due to the most powerful source of leaving damage to this planet we live on. Therefore I do not appeal to belief rather than understanding this request and input of information and historical studies in interest to all Aotearo, Maori and creatures living on this planet. Authority Rākau Māori TapuTapu (Maui) Times of Malta I, Jorge Bo Smid, in the position and as proprietor of ManaTapu Trademark 018093527 EUIPO and established, registered under authority and constitutional law in Europe, do not hesitate to transfer all rights and/or assign any authority or representative in aim, power and good faith, to not only protest the Te Tiriti o Waitangi but implementing equality and to: Termination or Withdrawal by Consent 23 A treaty may of course be terminated, or a party withdraw from it, at any time by consent of all the parties (Art. 62 (2) (b) VCLT). The International Law Commission (ILC) did not accept that the civil law principle of acte contraire (a rule can be altered only by a rule of the same legal nature) applied. The agreement of the parties does not have to be in the same form as the treaty. If the treaty creates rights for a third State in accordance with Art. 36 VCLT, or an obligation has arisen for a third State from the treaty in accordance with Art. 37 VCLT, the consent of the third State may also be needed (Treaties, Third-Party Effect). Times of Malta Tauira https://timesofmalta. com/article/earth-garden-social-media-goes- dark-malicious-copyright-claim. 1093726 Lovin Malta Log in or sign up to view See posts, photos and more on Facebook. 00064755817220. -2207520000&type=3 6 Years long and unfair dispute between cultural public and the media and public in Europe, official statements questioning and misleading the whole EUROPE online and disrespecting the MANA. META FACEBOOK and the public in Europe have no possible resolution in the conflict center nor to factual law, due to violating their own constitutional established self assigned environment. Facebook not able to resolve the conflict in front of the whole nation online, And whilst slandering the Mana Europe wide and disowning Jorge Bo Smid as Chief and messenger, the Mana has made its way through my reports and through Facebook's reporting tool, with no understanding due to the same fact as all Chiefs signed the Treaty in 1840. Before Aotearoea and Maori have spoken and voted or restored their and my Mana in Aotearoa, I stand by legal channels. KaraKia Conclusion The true full epitome and chief of ManaTapu Jogy-Bo Haumiatiketike, the god of uncultivated food, particularly bracken fern. Papatūānuku, the primordial earth mother. Ranginui, the primordial sky father. Rongomātāne, the god of cultivated foods, particularly sweet potato / Kumara. Tānemahuta, the god of forests and birds. will hopefully correct this equal for disrespecting the Mana. I Jorge Bo Smid alias Jogy Bo Chief of ManaTapu, comes from Mauri, a pervasive life force somewhat similar to the concept of a soul. My spiritual power is derived from mana, drawn from the atua. My Mana is and was and will be earned through skill and social recognition. The loss at the hands of others is a common cause for war. My Mana is protected by tapu, a sacred ethical practice that once governed all of Māori society. As my divine power is developed, the more tapu will be restricted to contact with normal people and objects. This could also apply to places and objects. Proof (Confidential) (Conflict Communication authorities) EUIPO, EU, IPEP, DPMA, UN & (Conflict Communication Companies & Parties) META-Facebook, Lovin Malta, Times of Malta, Earth Garden, Melodija, Farsons vs. ManaTapu be assured I, Jorge Bo Smid & ManaTapu have involved and assigned all organs on all channels, to engage and act on every possible legal jurisdiction and law if needed. We are transmitting this information in the interest of Aotearoa, New Zealand and nationwide to may prevent, amend or cancel any of the following: of example: Deprivation/expropriation Universal Declaration of Human Rights Civil and Political Rights Identity, Creative Rights, Language, Intellectual Property and all other This section is factual, to point out the conflict and is considered to be used in court or presented to any authority making decision. EUIPO VS META in YOUR & PUBLICS The Case Jorge Bo Smid alias Manatapu Vs Malta Nation Tapu Identity Wipeout We do expect a response to this email as notice that we have delivered this crucial information to you and we do not condone any other communication but in which these words are to be treated as objects and any assessment of official authorities are NOT relevant if taking any irrelevant opinions into account for decision making in this conflict. The gravity and origin to this global escalation between Meta/Facebook, EUIPO & Public is not in my personal interest at this stage, nor as Trademark proprietor even though, the damages and worldwide questioning/slandering and intentional diversion of truth in regards to all authority bodies has affected us financially, mentally and physically. To see the credibility and recognition of any official authority body being slandered intentionally by Facebook Meta itself, after enforcing registered rights and enforcing a Trademark to EUIPOs registry, should be in every citizen's interest who intends to apply for a trademark or enforces a Trademark, or holds a trademark worldwide. The recognition of the intentional slandering release by the nation of Malta and caused by META/Facebook, has silenced META/Facebook's reporting tool and its authority. ManaTapu does not get nor is expecting a response, due to simple understanding, since all reports are truthful and factual provided with evidence and the suspension and initial Trademark enforcement was based on truthful rights and relied upon their own provided reporting tool to be considered superior and to which META/Facebook itself sets as requirement. This is Jorge Bo Smid In Interest of IP and Aotearoa Email - Extract META DEAD END URL: https://www. facebook. com/photo. php?fbid=865343075634212&set=pb. 100064755817220. - 2207520000&type=3 Please be advised that this post is done with intentional harm and defamation to mislead the public. Therefore not ONLY the post has to be deleted due to defamation and agnostic acting by journalism not making research, but the responsible chief editor of the reported Page/Post has intentionally posted this on The Page with intention to mislead and have destructive effect not only to my personal as holder JORGE BO SMID but also to commerce and Trademark registered. Therefore the Page Lovin Malta needs to be suspended until further notice in order to prevent harm to the public through false information. How ever we do not condone either and neither is one of them legal The reported URL shows a post of Lovin Malta (see picture below), stating written: Malicious Attack of ex band member This post indicates my rightful Trademark Report Nr. of the Facebook Page Earth Garden Trademark Report Form #766428628986665 See note for repetitive infringement on their website. The editorial Team and chief editor of Lovin Malta Page Tim Diacono, had been sent several media release information announcements previous to Take Down of Earth Garden to share and work on the story with full truth release and moral integrity. Unfortunately, both parties ignored the approach and have released this post intentionally with false information, to divert the public and audience from the truth. Please also watch reports for unlawful conduct to news and media to that page. Both, Lovin Malta Team was informed about our intention and protecting our Trademark & Organizer of Earth Garden Howard Keith Debono had been informed and asked on amicable terms to cease and desist. FYI and additional details Customs had been informed. A report to German Police has been filed. A lawyer in Malta is assigned to file class high court action The host of https://lovin. ie/ received a cease and desist and information to immediate take down defaming post with intentions and yet, get the chance on an amicable solution until tomorrow. (See email attached) We are attaching confidential evidence. I state that everything above is the truth and nothing but the truth and all details and evidence may be used in court and relied on I state in good faith, I am the rightsholder of EUIPO and DPMA Trademark https://www. tmdn. org/tmview/#/tmview/detail/EM500000018093527 https://register. dpma. de/DPMAregister/marke/register/3020220025597/DE and that all parties have been informed and be brought to justice on all legal channels and organs. Disclaimer All provided evidence is to be kept confidential and all communication in this matter is shared with my legal representative and updated to Police report PP. 01363_2024_DE Jorge Bo Smid MANATAPU www. manatapu. ie I state that all above is the truth and nothing but the truth and I am the truthful and sole creator of Mana Tapu Jorge Bo Smid ManaTapu www. manatapu. ie jogybo@manatapu. ie

Learning te reo Māori me ona tikanga has brought me closer to te iwi Maori me te ao Māori which has been an absolute privilege. If more Pākehā like me learnt te reo I really believe Aotearoa would be a better place. Ki a au nei- 'ko te reo te taikura ki te whakaao mārama'

Because I have no answer to " why not ". I speak english, I speak french ( my husband's language ) so it makes perfect sense as a New Zealander, to also learn te reo maori

Kia ora my name is ASHLEY KOKIRI I want to learn to your te reo Maori I am a baby in this game I have two daughters I have a partner I want to learn more Maori and take it to the next level when I have completed

My Koro and my Dad were raised with our reo not being prioritised and in fact it was taken away from them actively in their schooling and everyday life. As a Māmā and a daughter, because of the choices my parents made for us to be exposed to environments that encouraged us to learn, I have a responsibility to serve my whakapapa and do all I can to lift up our reo and create space for my babies and our mokopuna to thrive and learn without whakamā

I started learning Te Reo Maori from Toby Rikihana about 50 years ago. I also went to Takarangi King’s classes at Takapuna Grammar. I then took Te Reo Maori classes to Stage 3, at Canterbury University with Frederick Aniwa Te Rakuraku. I believe strongly in relearning this beautiful Reo now, in the hope that I can encourage others to do the same. We use quite a lot of Te Reo at home already. I feel that us pakeha need to become as fluent in Te Reo Maori as Maori did in English (in just one generation). It’s the one sure way for our cultures to begin to communicate honestly, humbly and with respect for each other. ❤️

To me, te reo Māori is the first language of Aotearoa. It should be more prominent than English, so everyone here should have some understanding of it. I show respect for it by learning.

I want to learn to be able to reo Māori with my tamariki and to keep our beautiful language around for many generations to come.

Tēnei tōku tōtō maori, he Māori āhau kei te kōrero mō ake tonu.

Kei te pirangi mātou ki te whakanui i te reo Māori, nō reirā ka ū mātou ki te kaupapa ia rā, ia rā! E whakarīrā ana kia pūioio te reo kia māmā ai mā mātou.

I just became a NZ citizen after 22 years and want to learn the official language in NZ. I’m also a teacher and it’s good to lead the way by being a learner myself.

Today we celebrate my Nana's 90 th birthday. Her first language was Te Reo Maori. As she was punished for using Te Reo she did not encourage her children. Now it's time for her children and great grandchildren to learn.

My Why is our future. As a kaiako and a grand parent I want to be able to support and encourage our future generation to be proud and strong in who we really are.

I have been off and on the te reo māori wagon for a few year's now but still enjoy speaking a little but i am hoping to get my mokopuna to take up the challenge as well

To keep our language, Aotearoa New Zealand's language alive because Te Reo Māori belongs to All New Zealanders #KiaKahaTeReoMāori ✊🏾🖤🤍❤️🇳🇿

E kaha ana ki te korero i te reo mo ake tonu atu. Ki ahau nei kei te hapainga te reo i te ao i te po mo nga mokopona me te Iwi Maori katoa.

Because I am a New Zealander and this is my culture. We are unique and must keep and enhance our identity.

My mokopuna. . . . . TAKIWATANGA. . . . expressing through Te Reo, with her learning her language as a Non-verbal child 😊

Te Reo Maaori is an integral part of our Indigenous culture and holds historical significance. We must nurture and ensure our reo lives on and is not stolen from us again. My reo is who I am, it is a taonga passed down from our Tuupuna, it is my identity, my origin and it is how I whakapapa back to my Turangawaewae, Tuupuna, Whenua.

I live in the embrace of my ancestors. I want my children to grow up in a culturally rich country that celebrates, resprects and embraces Te Reo Māori. I want to be an ancestor that is remembered for making space for all to flourish. Aotearoa New Zealand kia toa, kia manawanui, Te Reo Maori is miharo.

I am a Paramedic within the Bay of Plenty region and would love to connect, relate and effectively look after Māori patients. This largely includes communicating in Te Reo Māori.

I want to make my nana proud!

Trying to gain confidence in my ability to kōrero and I want to be able to help my tāmariki to learn and have confidence in their reo also.

I do it for her. My tāmariki, my ākonga and my whānau(who whakapapa Māori). I do it to show my support as a Tangata Tiriti, it is our official language and we need to keep it alive for our rangatahi and future mokopuna. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

Tērā te wawata nui kia noho pūmau te reo Māori me ōna tikanga ki te whakaruruhau o tōku kainga, waihoki ki ngā tōpito o tāku ao. Kia Māori ake nei te titiro whānui otirā te tupuranga o te anamta, a tōna wā.

Being able to learn is a special gift from tangata whenua, that makes our nation unique. Te Reo Māori deserves to be nurtured and respected. So it can grow and thrive.

Mō tātou katoa ~ For all of us. Mō āku tamariki, mō ōku mātua, mō tōku whānau, mō ōku hoa. My hope is one day reo Māori will be the most spoken language in our house.

I'm a Nanny now. . . Want to share what my tupuna instilled in me & my tamariki

my babies and my mokopuna, just like my tīpuna before me, a little each day helps can the future so they can speak it all the time and love their language Whāia te mātauranga hei oranga mō koutou

Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au

Ko tāku wawata nui kia whakahoki mai te reo Māori i tōku nei whānau. Kua pā kino mai te mamae ki tāku whānau no reira koinei te wā kia whakarau ora i tō mātou reo. Kona akoranga ka akona e au ka whakaako ki tāku tamahine, me ōna taringa turi. Ko ēnei akoranga ōku hei whakahoki tanga ki a ia me āku mokopuna.

To improve my kōrero.

I want to live my "growth mindset" by learning Te Reo. I love how descriptive the language is, and its fun making sense of the patterns, I want my mokopuna to see I've made time for this too!

Ko taku tino tūmanako, ka whakaoratia tō mātou reo rangatira i roto i tōku whānau me te hononga ki tō mātou Māoritanga. Mō nga mokopuna e haere mai ana.

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I've lost most of my reo through not hearing it spoken around or using it myself over time. I really want to be fluent as I sit learning words with my moko. What is happening in our country is so so wrong. We need to raise our voices together and stand tall against racism. Strength comes from our language. It unites. It is our heart. I want to korero with my moko, I want to stand with my community. I want to be heard

To keep the language alive

Like to share one in million to have my own kapa haka kakahu and more reo Māori wa Katoa

Im there!

I have grown up around Maori speakers and Maori practices throughout my life but I've only ever developed basic language and understanding. I want to learn Te Reo as I am looking to work in the corrections department and I want to communicate with people in a language most comfortable to them. After learning Te Reo I hope to go on and learn other languages.

Kia Ora! Kei te pirangi ahau ki te whakamana te reo Maori. Kei te pirangi hoki ki te korero ki aku mokopuna.

I would love to learn and be able to speak and understand the language. Even though I'm Maori I never took time out to learn more. Now in my 60s it would be a blessing to speak and understand

Kia ora, I'm just beginning as I have begun studying at Polytech. I'm learning pronunciation, greetings and also Respecting the Treaty of Waitangi.

I started to learn Te Reo Māori because it is a big part of our cultural life here in New Zealand. Also, in job situations you might come across someone who only speaks Māori and you have to learn how to reply. Iv'e been learning Måori for 3 years now.

Ko te reo kia rere, ko te reo kia Māori,

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To be a great future tūpuna myself, re-gain our reo.

I feel short changed, having been born and raised in Aotearoa, that I was taught no reo, tikanga or history - our own history - at school. 150 years of rubbing shoulders with Maoridom has made pakeha who we are - different from other former colonial countries like Australia, Canada and the USA. I'm now setting out to redress my lack of education in te Reo, Tikanga and what it is to be Maori.

I am a Principal of a Dual Medium Kura. I have arranged for our staffroom to become te reo only during Maori language week and I asked my Rumaki for some supports so we dont all sit in the staffroom in silence. This website was suggested. I imagine we would have starters for greetings and common sentences as well as games that build kupu knowledge. Auraki are all on a journey to increase our te reo and this is another positive example of us supporting each other.

In my position I am more and more required to participate in powhiri and karakia. My pronunciation of te reo needs to greatly improve.

I have a desire and need to speak to kaumatua on Marae

I want to reconnect with my whānau and my ancestors, and I think the best way to understand the culture is through the reo.

Te whainga! Aaku tamariki! Ooku maatua tuupuna! Tooku whaanau whaanui

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I can't imagine my world without Te Reo Maori. Te Reo Maori has not only been my first language being a part of the kohanga reo movement in the 80s but te reo has also been my go-to when needing to express myself. When I'm feeling lost or overwhelmed in life, I call on my reo to guide the way, whether through karakia, takutaku, waerea, or a simple waiata, haka, or patere. I always feel anchored after doing cultural practices. I get sad sometimes when my whanau are being mihi to, acknowledged because they don't get to fully comprehend those mihi because they cannot speak or understand te reo as an oral language, however, true to form, te reo Maori has a wairua aspect. 9 of 10 times whanau who don't have te reo can still feel the mihi or the korero. I have a personal obligation to the survival of te reo Maori me ona Tikanga because of these truths about te reo from my POV. Hence, I have taught in Kura and online for over 25 years. It's true the whakatauki, toku reo toku ohooho, toku reo toku mapihi maurea, toku reo toku whakakai marihi. Mei more taku reo Maori, mei kore ake au!

To be able to connect with my Maori friends

Been born in the 60s I had a bad experience, thinking I was doing good with my Te reo at school. My mother told me I was learning Ngapuhi instead of Maniapoto and thru my homework into the fire, so I gave up

Strengthens my links with Māori and their culture, and helps me understand Māori culture better. It will help support any tangata whai ora to need to support in my workplace. Also, te reo Māori is one of our official languages and I consider it is a building block of our country. Plus I want to be able to grasp and understand the te reo that is said on marae, on the radio, at events, in supermarkets (etc).

As an immigrant I think it’s important to know an official language that is not English. It also shows respect for a culture that is not your own

My tamariki and moko are Maori

I want to be more in touch with my culture & my ancestry. I am proud of being tangata whenua & want to have more knowledge of te reo maori so not only will I learn but will share to others about our beautiful language and culture.

Kei te pīrangi ahau ki te tautoko i te Rangaihi Reo Māori. He kaupapa hiranga mō te wāheke o Aotearoa. I tīmata ahau i tāku ako o te Reo Māori i te tau 2022.

Support whanau and hāpu

To inspire and support the kaiako in the kura I work alongside of.

My son was born here in Australia in his last year of school we sent him to Opanake Taranaki to have an experience and connect. I dropped him off and was very sad and worried for him ill miss him and the nz rural roads worry me , driving age, I was in awe of that maunga the snow capped peak the aura and mana it held was astonishing. . . the days went by before it was time to leave I felt this urge to talk to humble myself infront of the mountain and ask him to please take care of my son and if he did, I would dedicate the rest of myself to serving my people. . . tears roll down my face as I write this because this atua spoke to me and said yes. . . . and im a man of my word. I am 1 year into this journey this relearning . . . . I will always see Taranaki and pay my repects and this mahi now

I live in an island country that considers itself "Asian" but is actually Pacific Islander, both geographically (it is an island country in the Pacific basin) and linguistically (the native languages in the Philippines belong to the Austronesian family). Thus, I identify as a Pacific Islander. And in line with that, I have already studied an Austronesian language for quite some time (Bahasa Indonesia) but I feel that I need to learn more, particularly one that is considered Polynesian. And te reo Māori is an excellent pick since I have been to New Zealand back in 2008.

Kia ora I’m so proud to be a Kiwi and hope to embrace our culture in the best way I can. Working with older people with chronic illnesses, better understanding Māori and Pacifica culture will help me contribute positively to their health journey.

My Why! My son, my whānau, my tupuna, my whakapapa, my identity.