Tēnā koe Phil, thanks for making the time to kōrero with us! First off, can you tell us a bit about what you do here at NHC?
Kia ora! I’m the lead for Strategy and Innovation. Our team is focused on strategy, planning, developing new stuff and supporting opportunities to grow our impact as an organisation.
Can you tell us about your journey with learning te reo Māori? What, if any, are your goals and aspirations?
I’ve worked for hauora Māori organisations for a large part of my career so have been exposed to te reo regularly. My pronunciation and basic vocab is okay but honestly, I am a complete novice who struggles constantly. We do regular te reo lessons here at NHC which are heaps of fun. And being in an environment where te reo Māori is normative is very helpful for getting better. I’d love to be able to hold a basic conversation in te reo one day.
Why is it important for Tangata Tiriti to learn te reo Māori?
Ko Ngati Pākeha ahau but Aotearoa has raised me. Learning te reo Māori is a small way of acknowledging the importance of the indigenous people of Aotearoa and the beauty and vibrancy that te ao Māori adds to our cultural fabric.
I’ve also come to realise how language carries culture. Even a near ubiquitous word like ‘whānau’ is really reflective of te ao Māori. We might translate it in English to mean ‘family’ but we know that in te ao Māori, whānau is much more dynamic, complex and multi-layered, reflecting the importance of whakapapa and connectedness. So, gaining an understanding of kupu and how they fit together can really deepen our understanding of te ao Māori. And that’s important for all of us.
The kaupapa for Te Wiki 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. What does this mean to you?
It’s cool to be part of the continued growth and normalisation of te reo Māori across the motu. I’d love to think it’s an unstoppable development but we all need to contribute to ensuring it continues to thrive. The recent political climate is a bit of a wake-up call that progress is not in one direction, nor a given. We all need to make an effort. My kids whakapapa Māori and it’s exciting to think of how they might use te reo Māori in their day-to-day reo over their lifetime.
What are you doing to participate in and celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori this year?
It’ll be an opportunity to really focus on trying to use te reo as much as possible, in as many contexts as possible. Both inside and outside the tari! To your earlier question, I should set myself some goals around my day-to-day use and my learning journey.
What’s your favourite kupu or kīwaha to use at mahi?
“He aha te kupu…” (What’s the word…) is helpful for learning new kupu and engaging in kōrero.
I’m a bit obsessed with ‘kino te pai’ at the moment which is ‘mean’/’awesome’. I can drop it in pretty much any context and I sound like I know what I’m doing.
It’s not mahi relevant but I also love ‘e te tau’ (literally translates to the resting point and is a term of endearment) which is an ātaahua (beautiful) way to talk about someone you love.
And finally, any words of support for your fellow te reo Māori learners?
Just give it a go. I’ve only ever heard support for us beginners so don’t be whakamā. It’s a beautiful language and the more we all engage in it, the better we’ll be. Kino te pai!