Te Reo Māori and Me: A Short History
In this blog, I share some of my experiences with Te Reo Māori, hopefully, you will find something in it and enjoy!
(James Barnes is 44 years old, He worked as a Te Tiriti o Waitangi Educator and Cultural Supervisor and teacher)
Being Pākehā and growing up in Māori Education (Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, Bilingual Unit) was obviously different from most other Pākehā families. it has been quite the ride, and really a super blessing to have a small insight into the Māori world. People often say we were lucky to grow up like we did, as we have the reo now — and that’s true. But growing and maintaining Te Reo isn’t just about luck. It’s something Māori speakers have to work and nurture. So yes, we were fortunate, but it wasn’t luck alone to get to this point of being conversational in Te Reo.
Growing up at the Kōhanga Reo, Nā Te Kōhanga Reo Mātau
I remember that time as so much fun. Where we lived, we had tītiko (mud snails) from the mudflats. I remember throwing the leftover shells as hard as I could at my mates around the marae. Our marae even had a flying fox for a while, and these big wheel things we used to play on.
I also remember moe (sleep time). My twin and I apparently spent extra time at the nanny’s house when our dad was still working at the marae — her place was just over the road. I don’t really remember that, but I do remember her warmth.
The real good fortune was growing up alongside the other kids — my twin and I surrounded by whanaunga of the hapū.
Adolescence – Taku Ohinga
We were lucky to have a pāpā — a teacher — return from Auckland with his wife. They were passionate, full of energy, and gave so much to us. Our kapa haka grew from the standards waiata group, into top-notch new compositions about our iwi — songs that still help me understand the stories of home today.
We did art projects like building a model of the Mataatua waka, and even drew outlines of our upper bodies so it looked like we were all paddling together. For a lunch bell, we had a pūtātara (conch) neat alright, eh?
When I think back on my reo, I don’t really remember learning it. We just picked up the basics from hearing it around us. I don’t remember speaking it much, though, because everything else around us was Pākehā. Still, it must have been there, because it was the rule at school.
At 12 years old we sat School C Māori. I was chosen to do the oral submission. One of my classmates got a 1 (top mark), I got a 2. I still have my exam — the writing is so kanukanu (shabby), but it’s cute.. Sometimes in the exam, my words run together in the writing. Honestly, I think I wrote better then than I do now!
A Short Time with the Kaumātua
I used to watch Te Karere and Waka Huia, so I had a sense — though naïve — of iwi stories and structures.
At about 18, I began visiting kaumātua with cake, sitting with them and speaking in Māori. I started with those connected to our school, since they knew who I was. At the time, I had moved to Auckland and was failing my training to be a Kura Kaupapa teacher.
When I came home, I’d pick up my niece, still a baby then, and take her to see the kaumātua. Sometimes I went alone. Looking back, I feel honoured for those moments, just in the fact to have sat with them. I grew up with their mokopuna, so it didn’t feel so random. After visits, I’d jot down notes in my car. It didn’t add up to much, but later I was able to teach some of it at a dialect course for our hapū.
Ka Pakeke – As I Grew Older
I went to a couple of Te Taura Whiri o Te Reo Māori hui to learn grammar and the rules of language — things like the passive forms. That was incredible. I met people like Timoti Kāretu, Te Waihoroi Shortland, and many who have since passed — Mate Kaiwai, Anita Moke. Kāti me tangi rātau i te wā, engari pea koutou o te ope kahurangi, kua oti kē tō kākano te tou ki te one matua — we grieve for them, but perhaps the seeds they planted are now rooted in the right soil.
Other than that pāpā from home, and an old man in the Kiingitanga, most of my learning came through working in Māori radio. I had time to read the beautiful books out there in Te Reo and to interview many amazing people.
One funny thing: growing up, people would often say about others, “Nā te pukapuka kē ia i ako” — “he/she only learnt from a book.” That sentiment still lingers, especially toward those coming home from university. But I think books and uni are treasures. My view is this: me koko aua taonga raka, ka meinga ki tō pune whāngai, hei ora mōu — we should dig into those precious resources, and feed ourselves with knowledge for our wellbeing.
I even tried to sit my Māori language translator’s licence recently, but pulled out as I was going downhill and going to fail. I still don’t know the rules well enough. It’s a real science, and I deeply respect those who do master it.
Carrying the Seed
One of our koroua used to say: “Ki te tō te kākāno o te reo ki roto i a koutou, e kore e wareware.” — If the seed of Te Reo is planted in you, you will never forget it. That’s true. The things we saw and heard, the tikanga we were raised in — those helped us, and help everybody.
As the Kōhanga song says, “Oma rāpeti” “Run rabbit” Me kī, oma rāpeti mō te reo nei, shall we say the rabbit should run for the reo!
I plan to write in Māori on this blog at some stage, kia pākia au e te whakaaro tika! untill i get a good idea!
E aku rangatira, e ngā iwi, tēnā koutou katoa.
— Hēmi
Below is a link to a classic song from our childhood
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