Learning the HARD WAY

Michèle's te reo journey has its knockers, but she'll continue for Nanny Kitty

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It has happened a couple of times this year when I’ve been emceeing an event - palpable discomfort, a resistance to the welcome I'm giving in te reo Māori.

If you can imagine the sound of a group of people rolling their eyes? Like that.

Nine out of 10 times, it's the opposite. Something about hearing our indigenous language settles people and often, when I acknowledge whichever iwi are mana whenua for the place we're in, there'll be a warm murmur of “kia ora” back.

But I know there are people distressed about the “Māorification” of Aotearoa (see what I did there?) and lately I'm aware they're in the room.