Learning te reo Māori is a lifelong journey

At Citycare Property, our kaimahi bring diverse journeys and experiences that shape who we are as an organisation. This Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, we are proud to share the story of Mark Brown, a Vegetation Control Operator for our Open Space Maintenance Contract with the Porirua City Council and a member of Te Whakaroopu (Cultural Advisory Rūnanga).

Mark’s journey with te reo Māori began in a deeply personal way, when his father passed away and he found himself unable to fully understand what was being said at his tangihanga (funeral). That experience sparked a desire in him to reconnect with his language and culture:

"Ko Tainui te waka.

Ko Tararua te maunga.

Ko Rangitīkei te awa.

Ko Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga te iwi.

Ko Ngāti Parewahawaha te hapū.

Ko Mark Brown tōku ingoa.

My father never spoke any reo. Like many of his generation, he was discouraged from speaking te reo. I only found out we had a marae when I was around 10 years old. My mother, a Pākehā, was always supportive and encouraged us to learn our culture and language.

I started out teaching myself te reo from books, and later enrolled in beginner courses at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Life’s demands meant I had to pause my studies for a time, but I never lost my commitment. With the encouragement of my uncle and marae kaumātua (elders), I attended wānanga at the marae, learning not only the language but also tikanga and whaikōrero. This opened my eyes to the deeper meanings and contexts behind our traditions.

In 2019, I took a big step by enrolling in the full immersion Poutuarongo Reo Māori course at Te Wānanga o Raukawa. This is a bachelor’s degree, a three-year commitment to living and breathing te reo every day. Learning from kaiako who were also whānau made the experience feel like a homecoming. The journey wasn’t easy, especially with disruptions from the pandemic, but I’m proud to have earned my Level 5 Diploma after my first year. At some point, I intend to continue with this programme to earn my degree.

Now, I find myself stepping up to the paepae. I guess it’s my generation’s turn now. I have younger nephews who are fluent, and you just need to get over the shame that they can speak better than you. I appreciate learning from the young ones as well. I think it’s inspiring to see the direction that we’re going, where rangatahi are stepping up to revitalise our reo and culture.

To anyone who is thinking about learning te reo Māori, my advice is simple: just start, and make time for it. Te reo Māori is a window to our culture. It’s like a key that can open little boxes of information, giving you more understanding of our culture as you keep learning the language.

For me, one of my biggest motivations is the revitalisation of te reo in our home. My son is currently doing a course through Te Wānanga, and my grandchildren are in kōhanga reo (Māori language preschool). They say you need three generations to keep the language going, so it’s something I’m proud of.

As the theme for the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, “Ake Ake Ake, A Forever Language,” says: learning te reo Māori is a lifelong journey. It will never end."

Thank you, Mark, for sharing your story with us. We’re proud to have you as part of the Citycare Property whānau.