Maori Language Week - Tamati Wilson
Tamati Wilson, Master Plumbers Hutt Valley / Wairarapa President from Complete Plumbing Solutions shares his experience with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
Ko Mataatua tōkū waka
Ko Maungapohatu tōkū maungatapu
Ko Waikaremoana tōkū moana
Ko Ngai Tūhoe tōkū iwi
Ko Te Mapou tōkū marae
Ko Tamakaimoana tōku hapū
Ko Wirihana tōkū whānau
Ko Tamati tōkū ingoa
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is a reminder to me of my obligation to my two daughters Madeleine (13) and Hinepūkohurangi (8) to provide them with an insight into Te Ao Māori (The Māori World) of which Reo is a major part. My father was a fluent speaker of Reo, but, as I believe is the case with many whanau it was not spoken at home for general conversation. It was used on the Marae and in his Te Kura Kaupapa classes he taught. I was, and still am, blessed with a wider whanau over Aotearoa that support myself and my whanau in discovering our whakapapa, Te Ao Māori and our place in it.
If my father were still alive he would be tino hari at progress our country has made towards revitalising te Reo Māori. It is a long road ahead but I also need to jump on it and do my part.
Ko tāku tūmanako ka pai koe ki to haerenga.
