Don’t be afraid to let te reo do the talking

TeWiki o te Reo Ma¯ori 2022. Amilestone in growing the use of te reo Ma¯ori in the community, 50years after Hana Te Hemara marched to Parliament, signatures in hand, to ensure one of our official languages wasnot lost.

In years before this, Ma¯ori, insome instances, had the language quite literally beaten from them, while others, believing that to progress was to lose te reo Ma¯ori from their communities and homes, stopped using it altogether.

In those 50 years we have seen the growth of Ma¯ori Language Dayinto Ma¯ori Language Week, and the continued normalisation of te reo.

Ihave been lucky enough to speak to some prominent Kiwis about their journey learning not only te reo Ma¯ori, but also of their history, their culture, and the struggles those before them have undergone.

Awardwinning journalist and stalwart of 6pm in NZ homes, Mike McRoberts spoke of being called out as ‘not Ma¯ori enough’ due to his lack of te reo knowledge, and his recent documentary was an eye-opening account of what somany grown Kiwis go through in an attempt to learn, and reconnect.

Brad Kora and Miharo Gregory from popular band L.A.B also spoke of some of the negative feedback they’ve received while bringing Ma¯ori language to the forefront of NewZealand music, alongside so many other musicians, from Dave Dobbyn to Benee.

I count myself lucky tohave grown upin a part of New Zealand where te reo Ma¯ori and kapa haka were as easily accepted and used in sch ool andhome as maths and science, and that my Ma¯ori heritage has allowed me to use te reoMa¯ori through out my life, without second-guessing if I was getting it ‘right’. I know others have a very different experience, but believeme when I say, there’s no one waiting to growl at you for a mispronunciation or aword inthe wrong place!

I’m by no means fluent, but it’s only through trial and error that I can learn, so that mytamariki can also treasure this taonga of New Zealand.

Karawhiua! (KaRahWhewah) Which means- give it a go!