Te reo is essential to the Maori people because it is core to a culture. I am pakeha and as I am New Zealander it is also part of my culture. I look at our classrooms and the faces are Indian, Asian, African, Maori, etc. and the bond that is common to us all.
When we have a powhiri at school it is so special to see an Asian child standing beside a Maori child and both speaking te ro with confidence and pride.
I find it offensive to hear something as simple as place names pronounced incorrectly. If that was Italian or French we would be appalled. Imagine ordering a bottle of wine and pronouncing it incorrectly or ordering a croissant and calling it a crowsent. It is seen as cultured to pronounce French and Italian correctly but not te reo. I hear people say, " oh you know she speaks fluent French and again it is seen as special. I am proud to be able to say "oh do you know she speaks fluent Maori"
Signing up will hopefully add to a huge list of people who will show New Zealanders this is important and the anti will become the minority. It will show the government we are serious.
