Tēnā koe e hoa! (translation: hi friend!)
This is just one of the many phrases I learned from my recent te reo Māori (Māori language) course.
You’ve probably noticed the growth of Māori culture and language around you. You’re not wrong, Māori culture is undergoing a revival with more and more New Zealanders, both Māori and Tauiwi (non-Māori) being able to speak at least some level of te reo. Calls are also growing to teach the language in schools.
This Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori language wek), you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Or perhaps you’ve been considering wanting to learn more.
As someone who has been on a slow journey to learning te reo and who recently did an introductory course, I thought I could share some of my experiences. Below are seven things I learned from learning te reo Māori. Understanding the language already around you
Te reo Māori is full of beautiful phrases. Take a phrase as commonplace as “kia ora” for example. Commonly translated as “hello”, its meaning is much deeper. It’s a well-wish, almost a command, literally meaning “be well”. Its versatility allows it to be used as a greeting, farewell or as a response to affirm support or provide acknowledgement. 10/10 wholesomeness.
Or the word “mana”; you could translate it as “prestige”, “authority”, “gravitas”, “respect” or “power” and all of these would be somewhat correct. But like “schadenfreude”, “je ne sais quoi” or “麻烦(máfan)”, no words in English have as elegant a meaning as the original languages.
Learning the deeper meaning can be really enlightening and rewarding. As they say, “do the mahi (work), get the treats”.
Keeping up with the kids
During Matariki, my son came home asking me does the Matariki star cluster have seven or nine stars? I told him seven, but he told me that people tend to forget about about two stars, Hiwa-i-te-rangi and Pōhutakawa. I didn't know myself so had to let him win.
At other times, he’s asked me whether “arahi” meant “integrity” or “leadership” as those were some of his school’s values. I had to look them up.
Learning te reo allows me to better keep up with and support (tautoko) his learning.
To grow as a person
Maybe you want to learn te reo Māori but are embarrassed to get it wrong and look silly. Fear not, that may be the greatest lesson of all.
Many of us with non-English names have heard someone say to us “I don’t even know how to say that name, so I’m not going to even bother [in case I mess it up]”. While sometimes well-meaning, it’s never really received that way. It's ok, give the language an honest attempt. Don't worry, you're not going to break it!
Start with a few new words in te reo Māori. Get them wrong. Get better at them. Develop your personal confidence. Find some new words. Learn the pronunciation rules. Continue that journey.
You’ll develop your empathy, learning what it feels like to be a newcomer to a different culture and language.
It’s good for business
I have a Chinese-New Zealander friend who once told me about going to “Saint Luckies”. I asked him to repeat it. “Saint Luckies, you know, Saint Luckies…the mall near Mount Albert”. “Ohhhh!” I replied “Saint Lukes!”.
To this day, he denies he ever said this, but as a committed and honest friend, it is my duty to never let him live it down. As it is his duty to remind me of when I asked for a “caraffay [carafe] of water” (it looked like a fancy word on paper).
Te reo Māori is growing in workplaces. If you’ve ever dealt with any government organisation, you’re probably already familiar with “ngā mihi” as a sign off. But the level of language and conversation is growing; in the last week, I’ve had an “ata mārie” (good morning) and an “ahiahi mārie” (good evening). Learning te reo will help you look smart and keep up with changing business etiquette and language.
At the least, you’ll know the difference between “Weta [Workshop]” and “Wētā [Workshop]”. Hint, one means an insect and the other means faeces.
For the political future of New Zealand
We all know some people who feel uneasy about the pace of cultural change in New Zealand. In fact, we may even be those people.
The concern may be that increasing Māori language is the thin end of a fat wedge: today it’s weather presenters on the news, tomorrow it’s co-governance, outlandish treaty settlements and heaven forbid…renaming New Zealand to Aotearoa.
If you are against all these things, could I suggest that this is even more reason to learn some te reo. If you want to oppose these issues democratically, you’ll want to understand the other side’s perspective. Learning te reo will help develop a better understanding of Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview) so you know what you are debating against.
Because our world needs it
I studied French and can ask for directions to “la discothèque” and discuss Gerard Depardieu movies. I went to China to study Mandarin and I can introduce my family and ask for a spicy-but-not-too-spicy noodle soup. Language is the gateway to culture. The vocabulary I learned reflected what I would need in those environments.
So, what does that mean when in lesson 1 of my te reo Māori course, I learned about whanaungatanga and manaakitanga, concepts of looking after others and caring for the environment? That I learned the words for love, faith/hope and peace from a traditional kid's song.
In a world of individualised, self-gratification, overconsumption and environmental destruction, it feels soothing to see that in Aotearoa, we have an indigenous culture, that at its core, provides a better alternative.
To support our Māori brothers and sisters.
The Treaty of Waitangi requires the New Zealand government to protect Māori culture and language. Part of this was due to the growing power of British colonisers, Māori could foresee this growing influence threatened to sideline Māori and their rights. Unfortunately, they were right. Land was forcibly confiscated and the language was suppressed. Kaumātua (elders) today are able to tell stories of being beaten at school for speaking te reo Māori.
Sure, you personally may not have committed any of these wrongs, but you can help make them right. Having some appreciation and acceptance of te reo Māori provides support for a friend who may be on their own journey, rediscovering what was taken from them. Being open to the revitalisation of te reo Māori is the first step to supporting those trying to bring back a culture and language that should have always been mainstream in Aotearoa New Zealand.
So how can you start learning?
There are many resources available.Below are some suggestions and I’ve ordered them below from highest commitment to least.
A great course to attend: If you have the time and resources, there are a range of courses available. Some of them may be free. I was fortunate to attend a work sponsored course, taught by Hēmi Kelly, creator of Everyday Māori. His beginners course is fantastic, a combination of pronunciation, vocabulary, useful phrases and culture. You can even attend night-classes through interactive zoom classes. Kāore he raru (no problem)!
Best book that seems to get widespread praise: Scotty Morrison’s Māori Made Easy books.
Podcast that’s been recommended by a friend who is learning te reo: Taringa
Supportive Facebook community: Hēmi Kelly’s “Everyday Māori” Facebook group
An easy translation resource: www.maoridictionary.co.nz to translate the everyday words you hear.
Learning by osmosis: An entertaining way to engage is through music and the “Waiata Anthems” playlist features some banger tunes. You may not understand what the artists are singing about, but that probably makes it even better as a work playlist.
Best Return on Investment: Foundationally, if I could recommend one thing, it’s taking some time to learn the correct pronunciation. Te reo Māori is a very logical language to pronounce. It may require “unlearning” how you may be used to saying words, but once you get the building blocks, you can pronounce any word…even this one. Below are some very short (a few minute) videos that take you through the basics:
Basic vowels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_DtsHdMAtk
Simple consonant sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiIcw35WoZg
Tricky consonant sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioPNzedUbvs
Pronouncing multiple vowels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JsnRtmyQ8w
Catchy song to help you remember: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiI7BIZLLwM
Language is a muscle, if you don’t use it, it withers away. So exercise your abilities whatever they may be! You might possibly feel self-conscious, but you are likely giving them confidence to try too.
You’ll find most people are very receptive And if they’re not, you can tell them of the individual benefits (personal growth, career development, seeing a new point of view) and societal benefits (bringing our country closer together) of learning te reo…or just send them this blog post!
We’re all at different stages of our journey so all the best on yours.
Ka nui te aroha (much love)
Julian