Never too busy to learn te reo

We continue our series on the secret talents and interests of city councillors with

Ros Connelly is both busy, and busy learning te reo.

The first-term city councillor is a weekly attendee at Orongomai marae’s free community class.

‘‘I’m pretty busy with my job [Ministry of Primary Industries senior adviser] and the council and I was also recently elected chair of the Board of Trustees at Fergusson Intermediate. I’m also on the committee of The Friends of the Hutt River so finding time to have a ‘hidden talent’ was a big ask,’’ the Silverstream mother of two said of The Leader’s profile series.

Yet at the start of the year Connelly was looking to follow through on a long held ambition to learn te reo ... a perfect hidden interest.

‘‘I was really keen and I was thinking abut signing up for a class at Te wananga O Aotearoa but then I happened to go along to an event at Orongomai and bump into Moana Kaio who I had known at university and who told me about the classes.’’

Kaio is now teaching her in a reversal of their roles at Otago University 15 years ago when Connelly, an older student taking first-year chemistry tutorials, had Kaio in her class.

‘‘They are going really well. We are learning using the Te Ataarangi method which is essentially an immersion system with no English and no translation. It involves using raakau (sticks). It’s about repetition even if you don’t entirely understand the words.

‘‘It’s a tried and true method,’’ said Connelly who has never leaned another language.

Her nine-year old daughter Niamh is also a class regular

‘‘She’s enjoying it. She already knew quite a bit through school - numbers and commands - and was keen to lean more,’’ Connelly said.

‘‘It seems that sometimes I can pick it up better on the night but she will remember for the next week whereas I mightn’t.’’

More than 30 people regularly turn out for the Wednesday evening class.

‘‘There’s quite a mix ... I’m like them in thinking it’s important, as a New Zealander, to learn te reo. It’s helping you learn about the Maori world.’’

talking to a Wednesday evening regular at Orongomai marae.