Grant's Kōrero: Whakanuia te Reo
As the CEO of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa, I am privileged to work for and alongside whānau. Whai Rawa’s role is to protect and grow the hapu’s commercial assets, and this of course is our focus.
But at its heart Whai Rawa is a Māori entity, and my role includes upholding that identity. So, this year I’ve made a concerted effort to learn more te reo Māori. It’s been a humbling, challenging, and rewarding journey.
Early in 2024 I participated in a six-week intensive te reo Maori course. My kaiako was a whānau member from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and owner of MANAVATION –Turaukawa Bartlett. He told me upfront that he was a demanding teacher, and so it proved! But more importantly, Turaukawa taught me that learning te reo Māori is not just about language; it’s about understanding, respect, and allyship. I deepened my learning and understanding of the importance of tangata whenua, of tangata Tiriti, and of how to be respectful in the use of te reo Māori.
Turaukawa has built a reo Māori retreat near the Karangahake Gorge and offers weekend long total immersion wānanga. A few weeks back, I again stepped out of my comfort zone and attended one. I was a very quiet, but my ears were working over time! We learned a whakataki, mihi for different situations, and karakia. But more than just the words, Turaukawa taught us the meaning of what we were trying to convey, and impressed upon us the importance of bringing that meaning into how you speak and present.
These experiences have made me reflect on how I represent the hapu in various spaces. Recently, I opened and closed a series of meetings with our corporate partners using a karakia, to an audience that did not expect it. There were no whanau in the room, and it was important to ensure that the audience knew that we represented the hapu.
I believe New Zealanders are doing themselves a disservice if they don’t celebrate the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa. There is nothing to fear in acknowledging the specialness of Māori culture. Rather than pushing down that cultural identity, we should be embracing and celebrating it.
To close, I want to share a kōrero that I developed with Turaukawa about what my purpose is:
He mea whāngai ahau nā Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei hei ringa pukenga. Me te aha, ko ahau te kaiurungi o Whai Rawa, mo te iwi te take.
In English: Adopted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as a skilled ally and kaiurungi steering the boat for the benefit of the people.
Ki te hoe!
