Tena koe,
Ko Nga Puhi ko Ngati Mutunga Wharekauri Te iwi.
Ko Shane Ngapou Ote Hahi Epiha tonu ingoa.
I was born in 1975 at Middlemore Hospital Auckland. At 2 my father completed his trade through Maori Affairs as a carpenter and we moved Tennant Creek. NT Australia. Basically put you finger in the middle of the Australian map and that’s where I grew up for the next 10 years of my life.
We moved back to NZ Northland in 1989.
When we moved home it wasn’t cool to speak Te Reo and I was often ridiculed by non maori for trying.
I have spent the last 30 years of my life ignoring my reo,my taonga, my heritage, my essence.
Ko au Te Reo Te Reo ko au.
I have spent my life communicating in English but not until I started learning and opening my heart to Te Reo have I realised I was supposed to communicating in my native language.
I am now a fist term councillor and director for the biggest business in our district and being able to mihi in Maori is certainly my biggest privilege.
Mana motuhake me te aroha,
Tino Rangatiratanga.
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