“We really need to walk the talk, we need to take te reo Māori to public places and make the use of te reo something that doesn’t provoke stares”
The first step for many Pākehā is feeling comfortable about being Pākehā. Being comfortable to acknowledge we don’t know te reo or tikanga is an important step to address that lack of knowledge.
“One of the things I notice about my work with overseas visitors is that they don’t carry the baggage that many Pākehā do – so they can ask really simple questions.”
This interview on National Radio with my good friend Alex Hotere-Barnes explores our journeys as Pākehā speakers of te reo Māori, some of the challenges we have worked through and perspectives we have gained.