From wanting to be seen as white to finding his way back to te reo Māori

Nathan Grey, a Māori musician and educator from Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and Ngāti Raukawa, has embarked on a transformative journey to reconnect with his heritage. Growing up, Grey did not fully embrace his Māori identity, influenced by a generation that had largely suppressed te reo Māori. His grandparents instilled in him the belief that success required assimilation into Pākehā society. As a result, Grey surrounded himself with Pākehā peers during high school, where he was nicknamed the Dalmatian and took pride in being perceived as white. This perspective shifted after his older brother completed a full-immersion te reo Māori course at Te Wānanga Takiura. Inspired by his brother’s experience, Grey enrolled in the same program, beginning a path that led him to become a teacher of te reo Māori. Grey described the process of reconnecting with his roots as challenging, bringing up deep-seated feelings of shame and loss. However, he found solace in the community at Takiura, where others shared similar struggles and helped him navigate the emotional complexities of rediscovering his identity. Grey now teaches te reo Māori at Selwyn Community Education, where his students come from diverse backgrounds, including fifth-generation Pākehā and international learners. He emphasizes the importance of creating a welcoming environment for those new to the language, encouraging respect and understanding without fear. Grey believes that the more people learn te reo Māori, the greater the cultural understanding and appreciation within New Zealand. Despite the growing interest in te reo Māori, many Māori families face significant financial barriers to accessing full-immersion language programs. Some have taken out loans or resorted to sleeping in their cars to afford the costs associated with attending these courses. According to Angie Stretch, head of heke poutuarongo reo at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, the ability to afford such programs should not dictate when individuals are ready to learn te reo. She argues that the government should fund Māori language education, given its historical suppression. Stacey Morrison, a broadcaster and advocate for te reo Māori, highlights the economic challenges faced by many Māori families. In Northland, concerns over basic necessities like food and fuel overshadow efforts to raise children with te reo Māori. Morrison works with families to address these issues, recognizing that resources and responsibilities vary widely among households. Learning te reo Māori can occur through various avenues, including night classes offered by Te Wananga o Aotearoa and week-long immersion courses organized by iwi. While some of these options are free or low-cost, others require significant investment. Rumaki reo programs, such as Takiura and Heke Reo, offer immersive experiences but come with annual fees, although they are subsidized by the respective wānanga. Despite financial hurdles, many Māori continue to pursue te reo Māori education, driven by a deep desire to reclaim their language and culture. For Grey, the journey has been deeply personal, leading him to a renewed sense of identity and purpose. He now sees his role as a teacher as essential in fostering a broader understanding and appreciation of Māori culture through the revitalization of te reo Māori.