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'

To strengthen my reo alongside my son and whānau and to strengthen my personal identity as Māori.

Sean

I’m on this journey for my children and my moko. I was raised to believe that te reo māori would only disadvantage me in life so sadly, I allowed that same thing to happen to my children. Now I see that not knowing the reo is the real disadvantage for all of us.

Larissa

It is a language that is part of my Heritage and yet I dont speak it

Nicky

I have realized that it's important to learn a new language and understand the culture that comes with it

Lazarus

te reo maori has been a big part of my life as it is surrounded, and it is involved with my average daily life. kapa haka, the reo itself and I've always been fascinated about my culture.

jeulius

I want to join the maori language movements to get to learn more

Kyssiah

I think it is important for New Zealanders to learn more Te Reo Maori.

Chris

🍃In January 2023 I went to my Mothers Homeland in Whirinaki for the first time. I am 62 years old & stayed @ Pakanae Marea with Penehio Whanau via invitation as our mothers were sisters. We knew each other during 1960s to early 1970s then in 1978 I moved to Australia & have lived here ever since. I have 5 children. Three were born in Australia & two in Auckland New Zealand but all have lived here with me all their lives. Now I have 8 mokopuna who want to know what & who I am & how they fit into my whanau. There is always a new question & learning for us all. So, the waiata above is one we learnt in January 2023 & before we return hoping with some of my tamariki in December 2023 to meet & reunite with Penehio Whanau🍃

Margaret

Proud to be maori. Te reo was first language spoken to me by my kuia and koroua. I need my reo back for the mahi i do.

Te Ari

It’s an incredibly beautiful and relevant language and it makes me feel more grounded and rooted in this whenua.

Alastair

I have always been drawn to Mātauranga Māori. As a Pākehā I often struggle with feeling connected to a culture as the European culture is very isolating and shallow. I am now wanting to connect with the Māori culture as it feels true and right and as a Kiwi is something I would love to lean into.

Tyne

Shaun

My father was the only person who was passed down the tikanga and reo from his grandmother, all of the other whanau turned their back on te ao Māori because of the trauma they faced. My father tried to share the kaupapa with me when I was young but I never really listened. My goal is now learn as much reo and tikanga as possible and share it with other New Zealanders to honour my whakapapa and also show dad that I didn’t turn my back on him. I think all New Zealanders should be able to speak at least some our reo, because it is such a taonga that we are lucky to have. I am struggling with the opportunity to learn reo Māori at this point in my life but I am trying my best and want to connect with people on a similar path to my own.

Tori

To be more confident in understanding and speaking te reo.

Cheryl

Im passionate about te reo maori all my children have been brought up in kohanga reo an te kura kaupapa i would love to be able to speak fluently

Erica

Kia Ora, I want to be culturally confident. What does that look like? for me it is being able to speak Te Reo, know and understand my Whakapapa. Be able to pass on to the next generation or at least encourage them it is never to late.

Tania

It is part of my heritage And I’m proud to be maori

Te Rina

To make my whanau proud, to respect my ancestry and to teach my children and others te reo

Jen

I te wa ka kite ahau i tetahi kupu hou ki ahau i roto i te reo Maori ka tuhituhi i taua kupu i roto taku pukapuka.

Peter

He tangata Tāwhiti ahau ā i whakapakeke ahau i Aotearoa nei. Ehara te reo Māori i tōku kōrero matua engari kei te ako ahau i a ia, ka tītohu ahau i tōku aroha ki tērā reo whāngai nōku.

Raŋe

Learning te Reo Māori is so rewarding. Not only does it keep your brain active, but it helps to look into how others see and experience the world. My husband and I have been learning since 2018, and the more we learn, the more humble we feel, and the less we realise we know. I imagine unless you have been born and brought up in te Ao Māori, you are always going to be manuhiri, learning and experiencing, but what a privilege it is to have this opportunity.

Andrea

Kia kaha te reo Māori

Bradley

fnkh

Noel

Very important to me being of Maori descent.

Katarina

My home, Moera Whaiwhetu is all the same to the death.

Talatonu

Te Reo Māori and tikanga Māori are doorways to Te Ao Māori, to learn our history, and whakapapa. Not only that, these are a part of who I am, of my identity as a Māori - tōku reo, tōku ohooho, tōku reo, tōku māpihi maurea, tōku whakakai marihi.

Maramena

Debi

Korero Maori mai ahakoa tika ahakoa he.

Mereana

Yvonne

Ko te reo Māori te reo o tēnei whenua, hapai ake te reo, korerotia te reo mō ngā uri whakatipu

Sheena

As a māori i feel i have a responsibility to myself to connect in every aspect of te ao māori but not just for me but for the future generations to come. And to make sure we as māori will always have a place in te ao

Sonia

Because I want to understand what my kids are saying 👀

Simone

Kia kaha te reo Maori

Krysella

Thank you

Desmond

I am excited to learn te reo Maori this year and share this journey with my whānau 😀

Shannon

Kei te pirangi ahau ki te korero Maori ki aku tamariki na te mea e noho ana tatou kei Ōtautahi…Nga tangata pakeha. Ko Aku iwi kei te Ika a Maui.

Phoebe

He mea nui ki au te reo Māori, i tipu ake au ki Tāmaki koinei te wāhi anake te ako i te reo māku. He mea kia whakahoki ki taku Iwi, me taku hapori.

Hoera

Mere

I would like to become fluent in Te Reo. To make my Maori students to feel welcomed and acknowledged

Florette

starting my Te Reo Maori journey again - #leshgooo :)

sam

Language and history through Reo

Monette Lisa

As a kaiako, I want to ensure we are honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and protecting Te Ao Maaori as taonga that it is.

Susan

I have started my te reo Māori journey because a better understanding of the Māori culture

stephane

My why for joining the Māori Language Movement is to learn for myself as a part of my identity and be able to support my whānau in their journey

Jamie

Kia ora

Rebecca

This photo represents a portion of my why “whaanau”

Marcus

E whai ai te tirohanga Māori, e mau ai i tētahi tuapapa o tōku tuakiri, ka whai arero Māori. Tōku reo tōku ohooho.

Alex

Te-Atihaunui-A-Paparangi/Waikato/Maniapoto

Hina

I wanted to know about the Maori culture I’m living here from almost 8 years. But don’t know much about the culture. I think by learning the native language I can get more closer to the native community and can learn few things about the Maori traditions and culture

Munish

"Just as in you are what you eat, it is even more precise to say you are what you say, what you read, and what you write. ” ― Louis Yako

Grace

so looking forward to learning te reo

Zanna

My Why is because i love my connection to my tupuna and want to reclaim that what was taken away from my family line.

Karroll

Test test

Kristin

Taku tama at Taranaki kapa haka regionals

Dan

I have recently moved to New Zealand from the UK and would like to immerse myself in the culture and language of the land. I have also volunteered for an important EDI role within my company. I am responsible for putting together a diverse and inclusive framework within the NZ business. I can only achieve this if I build an understanding of the indigenous customs, heritage and language.

Michelle

kia ora koutou e te whanau, Te Mana o te Reo Māori

Lucinda

Excited to immerse myself in culture as I move to NZ for the second time.

Amanda

Kia ora. He uri tēnei o Tūhoe, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Raukawa. Ēhara ahau i te tangata hei whakakanohi i ēnei mea, nō reira, kia ngāwari mai. Ia te wā ka tuhia e au tētahi wāhanga ki kōnei e hāngai ana ki taku haerenga reo maori. Mō naia tonu nei, kai te whakaaro au ki te whakauruuru o te āo hiko ki te āo māori me ōna horotai. He mea nei mā te hinengaro.

Puhi

I think it's very important to learn as it's not taught in schools adequately and I believe it will help to keep the language living

Sade

My moko took this photo as it was required for my census application.

Glendith

It’s a taonga that all Kiwis should uphold

Eve

Tēnā koutou katoa what drives me to learn is that I am now in my fifty's and want to ensure that my tamariki and my mokopuna know the language of their tunpuna.

Tania

I love our country and seeing visitors enjoy the wonderful scenery. In 2023 I want to take sharing Aotearoa New Zealand to the next level by confidently sharing Te Reo.

Sue

Because Te āo Māori is the nicest way to be - if we could all follow the kaupapa of te āo Māori, our communities would be stronger, more connected and therefore a safer, sweeter place to live love and grow in.

carla

I am finding out who I am and have just researched my DNA and found my Dad and siblings! Now I'm all about it! I want to fully immerse myself in all things Maori.

Leilana

Monique

I want to teach/learn te real with my mokos

Sam

I want to understand more within our blended community

Janette

I have always wanted to learn te reo Maori. But for many reasons it didn’t happen. However, I am ready to learn my mothers language.

Maudie

Meri Kirihimete

Tarnea

I think for me it was so hard to understand why I couldn’t speak as fluent as those around me. Now i understand and hope to be the change that is needed for my people and where we whakapapa back too.

Lanessa

Meri Kirihimete, nga whanau

Donna Maraea

kei te ako tonu au - I am only learning

Manu

As a woman of pasifika descent, language forms a big part of my identity and anchors me in my culture. This movement and the gift of Te Reo is an honour. I have deep respect for our Tangata Whenua who are the indigenous people of Aotearoa. Learning Te Reo is my contribution to normalising the language and keeping it alive.

Ruth

Whakapapa heals, and breaks whakapapa. In this journey we call life, we all strive to go home "one day" but where is home? Its easy to say what your iwi are, but do you actually know the history of your iwi? And so begins the journey of self. Knowing where you come from, helps ground, and guides you where you are going and who you are meant to be. No longer should one feel lost and lonely when you know who you are, where you've come from and walk in the tapuwae of your tipuna.

Angelina

In solidarity with our brothers and sisters whose language and culture are the foundation of a nation. Let us all learn and grow.

Sarah

I was born in Auckland in 1963, went to school in Christchurch, have lived in England for 42years since 1980. I am thinking or returning to New Zealand, I think of New Zealand as a Maori country. To return to the land of the Maori I should try to learn some language of the Maori.

Stanford

As it has always been a treasured taonga of mine . With out the full knowledge and understanding of te reo . My life will never be complete

Dave

Kia Ora koutou, Ko Eulalia ahau. For a long time i had felt disconnected from my culture and embarrassed at the fact that i am unable to Kōrero Māori. My drive came from the beginning of my Whakapapa journey when i left the place i called home (Ōtautahi) in Te Waipounamu to go find the roots of my whānau in Te Ika-A-Māui. Along the way i met many who spoke of the need for more Reo Māori to be spoken in our home land and many that shared a similar shame as me, being Māori with only the bare minimum understanding of our Reo. I also met a few whom spoke our Reo fluently! My journey lead me to finally push my shame aside and sign up to learn Te Reo Māori through Te Wananga O Raukawa which ultimately gave me the tools to become a part of the revitalization movement of Te Reo Māori. I could and can feel the importance deep with-in my wairua as a Māori wāhine. I do not have any tamariki as of yet but i would love for my tamariki when that day comes to know our reo and not experience the same struggle that many of us share today. Te reo māori is a huge part of who we are and last but not least, i truly understand Kaua e whakamā i te reo māori. Ngā mihi.

Eulalia

I want to learn te reo so that I can uphold the mana of te reo Maaori and create space for te reo and te ao Maaori to flourish in Aotearoa.

Morgan

Knowing and speaking Māori will make me fully understand , value and enjoy this rich culture of my country New Zealand that I am citizen of and call this my home

Manoj

I am learning To honour my Tīpuna and my Tamariki. But mainly to give myself the rightful belonging in Aotearoa. To keep my mauri burning bright and fierce so I can be of service to my whanau and friends.

Julie

To participate fully in te ao Māori. To be able to connect via te reo. To understand more of the mātauranga Māori that is being shared via te reo.

Niki

This photo is a wero. The wero for me is to be focused on the future while remembering the past, an abstractdepiction of that state of mind. I wish to uphold the mana of my tupuna as I learn to speak Te Reo. My aspiration is to be able to converse intelligently and freely with other reo Māori speakers.

Raylyn

To bebable to have a conversation in te reo maori

Christine

As a current kaiako pitomata I very am excited to begin teaching in my own akomanga next year. I wish to uphold the mana of self and all ākonga, by honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi throughout my teaching practice as a (PCT) Kaiako.

Katina

At Manurewa Central School, we celebrated Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori by performing our school haka - Ko Putahi O Manurewa. Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori!

Kenyon

Te Reo is an Awakening for me and I shall enjoy the path I have chosen!

Graham

I want to take part in this movement for my tamariki and to make sure my culture is recognised, not just on this day but every day.

Corrine

Since beginning my te reo Māori journey at the start of 2022, I have gained so much more than learning to speak another language. I am learning about the culture, about the tikanga, about te ao Māori world view and I feel inspired to keep learning about the first language of my country and to step forward against racism and bigotry whenever I see it.

Cait

To be my best for my Māori partner and community

Jeronimo

Our tupuna hear us when we korero i nga wa katoa 🖤🤍♥️

Teresa

Te tangata, te tangata, te tangata

Sonia

Kokako Mt Bruce, Aotearoa Native Bird, only one in captivity.

Min

I'm learning te reo to help myself and my tamariki to grow in small steps , we are playing games and introducing more words every week to extend ourselves

Jill

Kia ora, 2 years ago my wife and I started learning (level 1) te Reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. It has transformed our lives to learn the language of our tūpuna. It was one of my goals to learn how to do a mihi whakatau for the significant purpose of welcoming and grounding manuhiri to a space or roopu of people. Such a taonga! This is an official whakatau I did at my mahi this morning ki World Vision Aotearoa for the new youth ambassadors joining us. As we awhi and tautoko our indigenous whānau o te ao katoa, it is tika that we embrace te ao Māori and te reo Māori as a more fuller way of supporting vulnerable children and families across the world. Ka rawe. Kia kaha te reo Māori! !

Matthew

He pai ake te iti i te kore - A little is better than none :)

Alyx

I want to be part of the movement that normalises and practices Te Ao Māori on a daily basis. I want to help destigmatize the use of Te Reo Māori in the workplace. I want to encourage my whānau to rediscover and reconnect with their heritage and right as a Māori to reclaim our language.

Dee Jay

I want to be part of making Te Reo Māori so normal that anyone can relax under its korowai.

Mike

Seeking a sense of belonging for myself and my students through the learning of te reo Maori, kaupapa Maori and our connection to the whenua.

Cherie

This post is in moderation. Only you can see this because you are the author.

Share your why

Seeking a sense of belonging for myself and my students through the learning of te reo Maori, kaupapa Maori and our connection to the whenua.