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'

I need to try and learn this as i feel on the outer as a NZ’der talking to others

My “Why” will definitely be my Whānau and future generations to come. If I don’t learn our native language and pass it on, how will my children and their children learn? I’d prefer to teach them myself.

I fell in love with the beautiful country of New Zealand when we came on our honeymoon 5 years ago. I am an 8th grade teacher in New Jersey, United States and I choose New Zealand as our country for our multicultural week. I want to be able to share with my students this beautiful language and the importance that it has for the Maori people. I love hearing it and speaking it! Thank you for sharing it.

I’m from England and have chosen to make Aotearoa my family’s home. It’s important to me that we learn te Reo to honour the culture and history of this land.

I am working as a nurse in an Aged Care facility - also as an educator. I am NZ born and lived nearly 40 adult years in the UK. Have returned to Aotearoa and wish to begin learning the language that had been pushed away when I was at school. I need to be able to pronounce and learn correctly in order to be respectful in my place of work, observing Te Tirito o Waitangi, and to be able to teach others whose first language is not even English. This is a start. . . .

Tini whetu ki te rangi ko Rangitāne ki te whenua! “I ōku nei whakaaro i runga tenei kaupapa whakahirahira, te piki ake, te kimihia a mātou reo māori, te reo o tātou tūpuna” To leave a legacy for my decendants my Whakapapa, I can stand confidently in knowing who i am, and where i am from, to express my thoughts, in te reo māori and connecting with others. Sharing this matauranga with in hapu & Iwi spaces, inspiring other whānau on the journey to learning Te reo māori me ngā tikanga. .

Learning Tikanga and Reo Māori is my way of participating in Te Tiriti o te Waitangi.

Iv lived in Australia since I was 9, I am now 20 years old and being so far from Aotearoa, Iv grown to be so proud and very interested in learning about my culture. I want to to learn te reo so I can to keep our language alive in hopes that one day I can pass this on to my children.

To keep the Reo alive and for my mokopuna to learn about part of their culture .

It is my language, my mana.

I have been in nursing for 27 years and recently joining Maori Primary Health Organisation. It is my initiatives and inspirational for me to learn Te Reo Maori so that I can converse with colleague and whanau who is fluent in Te Reo. It will make me proud to be one non Maori to be able to speak Te Reo without offence or hesitation.

It's my language my mana.

To uphold the mana of my tūpuna. Mā ngā tūpuna o apōpō nōki!

Once upon a time, in the vibrant world of music, there was a talented Polynesian disc jockey known as DJ 682. Born with a passion for blending modern urban sounds with the rich cultural heritage of the Cook Islands, DJ 682's real name was Aberahama Tutai. His journey began in the heart of his island home, where the rhythms of the ocean and the melodies of tradition inspired his musical soul. DJ 682's remixes were more than just music; they were a bridge between the past and the present, a fusion of beats that resonated with listeners around the world. Each remix was a story told through sound, weaving together elements of his Polynesian roots with contemporary flair. From the bustling streets of Auckland to the shores of Rarotonga, his music transcended borders and connected people through shared experiences. One of DJ 682's most iconic remixes, "TPOT AKU TUAHINE DJ 682 REMIX, " captured the essence of his creative vision. The track pulsated with energy, blending traditional Cook Islands melodies with modern electronic beats, creating a harmonious blend that captivated audiences far and wide. As the music spread across airwaves and dance floors, DJ 682's name became synonymous with innovation and cultural pride. Collaborating with fellow artists like Victor J Sefo on "The Mix, " DJ 682 continued to push boundaries and redefine what it meant to be a modern-day storyteller through music. His remixes became anthems of celebration and unity, bringing people together in a shared love for rhythm and harmony. As DJ 682's fame grew, so did his impact on the music industry. His YouTube channel became a hub for fans seeking a taste of his unique sound, with each video drawing listeners deeper into the world of Polynesian-infused beats. Through his remixes, DJ 682 not only entertained but also educated, sharing a piece of his culture with every note played. In the end, DJ 682's story was more than just about music; it was about passion, creativity, and the power of art to transcend boundaries. His remixes will forever echo through time, reminding us that music is not just a sound but a story waiting to be told. And so, the legend of DJ 682 and his transformative remixes continues to inspire generations to come.

I love the language and culture. I want to continue learning Maori for myself and to teach it to others and I am happy that this honours part of the treaty

I want to communicate with Maori in a respectful way

I am ashamed to say I haven’t used my te reo for a very very long time. I was always having to apologise if people didn’t understand but I would love to see te reo normalised. Why would anyone be ashamed of being unique in the world? So what if no where else in the world speaks it… it is a part of us, a part of why people come to NZ, it is the unwritten story of NZ that has been passed down through the years

I am a kiwi born in Christchurch but moved to Australia when I was young with my parents, the rest of my family are in New Zealand.

I'm a nursing student and it will be so beneficial to my studies and career if even I just learn the basics. I am excited to get started.

As an Aotearoa/ New Zealand educator, I see it as vital that I take steps to learn our indigenous language. In a broad way, it will allow me to better understand and support our ākonga Māori, while allowing me to engage with whānau, hapū and iwi to work towards better learning outcomes for Māori. This is part of my effort as a kaiako to address the negative statistics of Māori in education. This is a big reason why I entered teaching when I did. Te ao Māori is woven into the Māori language, and so it is a taonga and a tool for Māori to preserve their sovereignty. We must be open to learning te reo Māori in order to ensure its survival - so that it may run strong for future generations Finally, as a part wahine Māori, it is an endeavour for me to better connect with my own Māori heritage. I know my tipuna would be proud to see this. Arohamai.

We lost Te Reo in our family a couple of generations ago, we want to insure that our next generation has it as their first language

Need to learn te REO it's who I am. I want to speak out loud and proud and once I learn I will then speak fully to teach my whanau at home

I want to learn more for my children to be able to know more about their dads side and educate myself to help educate them

This is my new home and I want to understand the culture, tikanga and reo of my new friends. I also want to be able to be confident in Te Reo in my practice as a teacher and pass a love of it onto my akonga.

I want to speak te reo Māori naturally within our whare and community for my tipuna, for my mokos, for my tamariki and for myself kia mau te reo Māori

Kia Ora

I feel it is crucial for people inhabiting a place that is not their own, to learn basic language, history, arts and culture to better appreciate the land and people and also learn more about who they are.

I want to speak the language to engage with those who don't speak English but are New Zealanders just like me.

Kia ora e te iwi

I think is important to know the owners of the land that I'm living on, their vision, their culture, so we can understand better. I'm Argentinian but my parents are Japanese, so an amalgam of cultures. I always want to learn Te Reo, something just itches on me to know more. I started last year on my first steps. I think everyone that lives in these lands need to know more about it.

I have lived and worked in several countries, and have always sought to be influenced by their culture and language as this makes my world larger. I need regular reminders and encouragement to keep this process also happening here, in my home country, my turangawaewae.

Kia ora! Nau mai, haere mai! Welcome to iĀko Māori E-Learning Cultural Competency. We are a digital platform to lift and shift cultural capability and create a space where everyone can learn. Mission is to Awaken Your Māori Cultural Competency The purpose of īAko Māori E-Learning Cultural Competency is to provide a platform for your kimchi | staff to learn and develop their understanding of Māori culture, traditions, language, and values through electronic means. E-Learning offers a flexible and accessible way for people to engage with the content at their own pace and convenience. We are proudly Māori owned and operated from the beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand. Mauri ora https://www. iakomaori. nz/

I want to be able to learn te reo and share what I learn with others

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We were proud to learn this new waiata as a kura especially for te wā tuku reo Māori. We love the message with the kupu about the importance te reo Māori. This is something that we treasure all year round, not just for te wiki o te reo Māori - He taonga te reo Māori. We will continue to strive to further our journey as a kura to learn te reo Māori.

The last time I heard te reo Maori fluently was from my Papa. I was 5 years old when he passed away. He was my only connection to the old world, to the world of te reo. I am now fifty years old and I have a dream to speak fluent te reo Maori. My Papa only spoke te reo, I never heard him speak English. I only every heard him speak te reo Maori, that sound has alway stayed with me inside. It is time. Oh how I wish I had my papa to korero with. I have a mokopuna now and I want to be able to korero with my moko in te reo, fluently. This is my why.

My why is my children, both Maori. My next why will be my future moko and the generations to come. I embrace te ao Maori and my ongoing studies of Tikanga at length. Now it’s time my voice is heard, as a non Maori supporter of all those doing the big fight. I don’t have position, power or the words to change opinions or challenge government. But I am one more person behind this movement. Aotearoa is my home, and by God I’ll fight for her and her people.

Being maori is in my heart, I want a greater connectedness to my culture, and to my people. I feel I will only achieve this through reo.

Toitū Te Tiriti. I have always wanted to learn Te Reo as part of honouring Te Tiriti and being able to work in partnership with Māori.

Kia ora i have done many studies in Maori and still can't speak fluently or confidently wanting to do some more learning and practice my te reo

I want to connect with my iwi and my Marae I want to learn Te reo to have a better understanding of my heritage.

To know my countries language, to support, to grow, to educate myself and my whanau

My Māori friends and family have suffered immensely from discrimination, both personally and at the hands of the compounding effects of colonial violence and intergenerational wealth. I will learn Te Rēo in defiance of the recent 2024 National, ACT and NZ First coalition policies that seek to erase it, and push Māori people further into the margins of society in Aotearoa. I will learn Te Rēo to enrich my mind, art, and my connection to my Māori comrades in this beautiful country.

Better understand the culture

To help strengthen my knowledge in Te Reo Māori so I can share our beautiful language with others.

As a proud kiwi. I think it is very important for us all the learn about and celebrate Māori history, language and culture Tina

To better understand this wonderful culture!

Mo tāku tamāhine

I'm new to the country, having just moved over from the UK with my wife (NZ citizen). The culture is a big part of what attracted me to NZ in the first place (alongside my wife, of course! ), and the country's maori heritage is something that I believe is important to pay respect to. In order to do this, I need to find out about it, so that I can understand it and advance myself by showing a commitment to the culture of Aotearoa, its legacy and people.

My husband, children and grandchildren are Māori, for me personally it's about being able to extend the little reo I have and to hopefully in time korero Māori with them at some level, and a huge thing for me is not to be afraid to use what I do know.

I want to be able to kōrero with my pāpā. I want to be able to teach my moko.

I have lived in Aotearoa now for 13 years and am an educator. I have completed study in Te Reo in the past and teach basic te reo and tikanga at school. I would like to be more confident in using and responding to te reo maori.

I'm finally being brave enough to start my reo journey, after so many years of procrastinating about it! Now is the time to do better and be better, not only for myself but for my whānau, my akonga & for our future generations.

I'm not from New Zealand, I've only been living here for four years, but I've fallen in love with the Māori culture, especially as it reminds me of my country and makes me feel less alone. I want to learn the language not only because I find it beautiful but because I learned English when I got to New Zealand because is the primary spoken language however Māori seems just as important as I'm a firm believer that the indigenous culture must be prevalent in the community. In my country we lost our indigenous language, it isn't spoken anymore, and that breaks my heart as I wish I could be part of it since my great grandmother is indigenous and so is most of my family.

I want to learn te reo so I can speak and write more than a word and teach my mokopuna from a young age to hopefully inspire them to continue a te reo maori journey

Kia Ora whaanau. I'm at my next part of my journey now. Last 6mths I've been on a Mauri Wahine Mauri Taane Wanaga via TAWK (Te Ahi Wairua o Kaikoura) whanaau mahi. The cover alot that has been beneficial for my Hinengaro/Wellbeing in finding my way. I want to do my next step which is learn my Reo. My 3 youngest are achieving so much via Te Reo Maori via school, it's my turn. My friend group are mostly Reo Maori speakers an I want to learn. Being brought up the colonized way by my grandparents, an catholic schools, no support at home back then. I'm eager now, knowing where my children are.

As a kaiako, I feel its important to be a role model for my students, to continue to learn no matter what your age. Our reo is part of who we are as a culture and a nation.

To be a better educator and to understand the Te Reo around me

Kei te pirangi au ki te ako i te maori mo aku tamariki me aku mokopuna

Simply because it's a privilege to call Aotearoa home.

To increase my understanding of tikanga and my te reo Māori competency.

I was blessed to have a fabulous uncle, Selwyn Wilson (Ngāti Manu, Ngāti Hine), who taught my sister and I te reo, as well as incredible teachers in primary school in the 1970s who also taught us (thank you Mrs Hunia & Mrs Deuss). Uncle often spoke about being whipped at school for speaking in te reo and, although I was horrified by this, as a child I had no idea how privileged I was to live in a time when te reo Maori was once again being taught, and to know fluent speakers who were willing to share their reo with me. Over time my reo has faded (as Ngāti Pakeha it can be challenging to build it into every day life) but I want to honour the love they all gave me and try to help keep this precious taonga going for generations to come. With our 3 children having studied te reo and my husband having managed to get his diploma in te reo Māori it's time to put my money where my mouth is and make it a priority.

Kia Ora, I grew up in NZ but currently living in a tiny island off the coast of France. I have no connections to Aotearoa here, but I intend to return home when my children are grown. My whanau are in Aotearoa and I NEED to return. I’m currently learning Swahili, as I have a group of African friends here, and I have noticed so many similarities to the Maori language. Like the vowel sounds, for instance. I know the basics we were taught at school, like colours, numbers, songs etc but I would love to be able to come home and be able to speak our native language with pride.

I am a migrant worker in New Zealand, I appreciate and respect the culture and language of the land. Therefore, I want to learn Maori language to get along with the Maori people and understand more about Maori culture.

I want to learn this language as my partner and his family are all Maori.

Hi! I love to learn the Māori culture, language and their life philosophy. I don't know why but I've been feeling closely connected to them since the very first encounter.

Born n bred in Australia, met up with other young Maori, we all in the same boat, all wanting to learn

Ko te reo te mauri o the mana Māori!

My inspiration to learn te reo Maori was my pakeha grandfather Norman Harry Capper-Starr who was a fluent reo Maori speaker. His mastery of the reo allowed me to think it might be possible for me to become fluent one day too.

Tōku reo, tōku ohooho, Tōku reo, tōku māpihi maurea, Tōku reo, tōku whakakai mārihi.

I want my kids to grow up knowing reo Māori as normal, not begrudging the culture that is intrinsically woven alongside our own history. There is no "us and them". It is simply people at the heart of life decisions. That means every decision from protecting the land to revitalising language is about people. To honour those that came before, and for the future of those that will come after. Normalising hearing and speaking reo Māori is how we can contribute towards this - ordinary people taking small steps daily.

What is drawing me towards te reo is the tie to our ancestors. I feel the urge to embrace this language as a direct link to our tupuna, a sacred pathway to our roots.

Because it’s important to build my understanding of Māori culture, through the lens of Te Ao Māori and the tongue of te reo Māori.

Im doing this for my whānau and especially my mokopuna. I'm doing this to grow and maintain healthy community connections.

I want to be able to korero in te reo Māori and feel a greater connection to the whenua

All my life I have struggled with my identity. It was either not being Māori enough or being too Māori. Having grown up and spent most of my life in Australia, I never felt deserving of my identity as Māori especially because I could not speak Reo and did not have any understanding of our culture and beliefs but two months ago I took part in a kaupapa that I will forever cherish. I was blessed with my Moko Kauae. It was an exhausting process getting to the table having been dealt with a lot of judgement for my decision but it was my hapū that helped me through the process. By partaking the kaupapa from the pure to the final karakia, I was able to contradict all the mopinions about the kauae and once again restore it's true meaning in my hapu as a taonga and not something that is earn by how fluent you are or how old you are. Being blessed with the kauae at the beginning of my Te Ao Māori journey, has given me the mana to continue with my journey and push forward with my learning. I love being Māori, it is me and I am it!

I'm Maori, never been around the reo so want to learn more. I know lots of words and small phrases, but i need to learn how to converse and become more comfortable using it.

Aotearoa is a beautiful place because of Te Ao Māori and I want to learn more and be as good a Tiriti partner as I can

The opportunity to learn all I can will strengthen my foundation as an individual and in turn help me to help my family strengthen theirs. I look forward to not only learning about myself but also other people’s stories and their journeys. The journey is not only about me or my family but about all of us in Aotearoa.

To help grow appreciation for te reo and spread its use within Aotearoa

Maori is a beautiful language of the indigenous people in this country and we have a duty to preserve the culture and language of those who came before we came here. We cannot allow this to be taken away and it’s important to me because of that. The Maori culture and language are unique and special!

I have been living in Switzerland for the last 8 years, in that time I have struggled to learn the Swiss German language, however am getting there. Living in a Country as a non native speaker, has opened my eyes to how important ones mother tongue is. The more I learn Swiss German the more I understand the culture, the more I understand the differences, the more I am able to integrate, in my small village, . Why then do you say I would want to learn Maori? As an English immigrant, . . . 1973. . . and as we are coming back to live permanently in NZ either next year or in 2025, I want to embrace the whole of NZ not just the British Colonial side, to gain an insight as to who we are as NZers. I am also desperately wanting to call NZ home again, which after covid and how Expats where treated, is a difficult emotional journey, and just maybe learning te reo, will help to heal the wounds and give me a sense of identity.

Te Reo Maori is part of who I am. I will do my best to stop those in Government who want to wipe out Te Reo Maori. Our language is unique to Aotearoa.

MY "WHY" is for my "CHILDREN" and "MOKOPUNA". So they will never forget "WHO" they are And "WHERE" they come from! ! ! ! !

I am 34 years old, been a lost soul that whole time. The more i dive in Te Ao Maori the more i heal and start to grow and understand who i am! The most important part is im learning at the same time as my children, something i hope will carry on when i am gone. Credit to my beautiful wife who has been relentless in this waka

For my whānau

Ka waiata tahi ahau rātou ko te roopu Te Kākano - te puna reorua kei Onepoto nā Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi o Aotearoa.

Our team has been opening and closing our hui with the Switched On karakia!

My workplace will be celebrating all week we have, activities, waita, shared kai, Reo phrases.

I struggled with my identity for years. I never knew my Whakapapa. I never learned the history of my ancestors. Learnt very little Te Reo. I never embraced my Maori because I was uneducated. Always being judged as Maori is a daily occurrence. I signed up for “Papa Tikanga” through Te Wananga O Aotearoa. This is when my eyes were opened. The last year has been empowering for me. I see things more clearly now & have a better understanding of my culture. I’m embracing my identity & passionate to learn more. I want my tamariki to be proud of who they are & feel excepted in society as Maori. I am Maori & proud. ❤️🤍🖤