For Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2022, we had a kōrero with some of our kaimahi who are on their te Reo Māori journey.
Nō Tonga, Airangi ōku tupuna | My ancestors are from Tonga and Ireland
I tipu ake au ki Waitākere | I grew up in Waitākere
Nō reira, ka mihi ki te maunga ko Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa, me te awa moana ko Piha me Te Henga | I acknowledge Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa is the mountain and Piha and Te Henga are the sea.
Engari kei Tāmaki Makaurau taku kāinga | Tāmaki Makaurau is where I live.
Ko Fitisemanu te iwi | My family is Fitisemanu
Ko Charlene Fitisemanu tōku ingoa | My name is Charlene Fitisemanu
Ko taku mahi ki Starship Foundation ko te Kaihohi pūtea | I work for Starship Foundation in fundraising.
“This year, I decided to learn te Reo Māori because I believe it’s important to learn Aotearoa’s indigenous language. It is a beautiful language and I love the concepts, values and wisdom found in waiata and whakataukī.
“Huni, my tutor on the Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi Te Reo Māori course, and the other students made the course great fun. Doing the course gave me space to learn and has built my confidence and understanding.
My favourite phrase in te Reo Māori is Aroha mai, aroha atu (love received, love returned). The reverse can also be used, aroha atu, aroha mai (love flowing outwards from us, love flowing towards us). It speaks of the intention and balance of respect/caring for one other.”
Charlene Fitisemanu
Corporate Partnerships Manager-Team Lead, Starship Foundation
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