I've been living overseas for over 30 years now. I've always wanted to be a fluent speaker of Te Reo and have picked up various courses from time to time, but learning it and being able to use it daily are 2 different things. You need mates to practice with, people who are dedicated enough to go the distance with you. I am a Ngāti Rānana pakeke and also a member (ex-Chair) of Te Maru o Hinemihi, working with Ngā Kōhinga Whakairo o Hinemihi to return their whare tipuna home to Aotearoa, in exchange for new carvings and a new whare. Last year we were lucky enough to secure a Connection through Culture Grant from the British Council to run, amongst other things, an 8-week in-person Te Reo classes here in London as a pilot. This programme ran from May-Jun 2024. My goal is not just for me, but for all of us living overseas. How do we make Te Reo accessible in an ongoing, sustainable way for all Māori overseas. How can we become self-sufficient or semi-self-sufficient in the long run What do we ourselves need to put in place (and what suggestions, examples are there from home) to develop ongoing community korero usage so that it becomes the daily norm.
