Ruth | Auckland

Te Reo is important to me as it is language of the country I was born in. My ancestors go back 200 years in Aotearoa and I am ashamed I do not speak the language. As my heritage is with early settlers I have no connection with any other land than Aoteoroa. If my ancestors had gone to any other land I would be speaking that language. It is important to me that Te Reo becomes the first language of Aotearoa. Because I am older and we did not have any Te Reo in school, it is harder. We also have grown up with the bad pronunciation of our ancestors. I know it is considered disrespectful to have incorrect pronunciation, but I ask for patience with my generation as we break old habits of incorrect pronunciation. I love to hear my children who have leant Te Reo in school pronouncing the words beautifully Nga Mihi