I grew up in Northland in the 1950s and 60s in a Pakeha family. We were taught Maori waiata and action waiata at school and loved it but didn't know what what I was singing about which was frustrating. I learned years later it was the educational law - no Maori language was tolerated or taught. I am 4th generation NZer and felt angry my 2nd language had been deprived from me. Numerous attempts to learn have been overtaken by life but I am still proud of my 2nd language and love hearing it all around me now.
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