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Te reo Māori journey tips

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We are early on in our learning journey but it's been so much fun (for sure challenging) and we'll keep it going! I think the key is to keep the fun aspect at the forefront.

While I can't teach te reo, there are loads of kaiako all around the motu who can. It is so cool that young rangatahi are growing up these days with te reo māori as their first language!
Karawhiua! (give it heaps!) to everyone on a reclamation journey, live in Aotearoa or just want to add te reo māori to their language collection (tō mōhio hoki!)

Where to start?

Everyone will have a different starting point, especially for tangata whenua who have been cut off from their reo Māori and/or culture. (Kia kaha e hoa mā!) You might be picking up kids' books (that was me), listening to podcasts or getting an app or joining in with te reo māori language week.

Finding your own ideal way of learning is important. Take inspiration from others, but try not to compare yourself to anyone else, find the method that suits you best. While face-to-face classes are often recommended, they might not be suitable or accessible for everyone. Starting online and transitioning to in-person classes can work well, but fully online learning can also be very effective.

See what resources you already have, ask your family & friends for help especially if any already speak the reo!

These are some fantastic places to go and actually learn:

Aside from structured lessons, surrounding yourself with Māori content is key.

Books, art, music, news, YouTube & Instagram have lots of bite-sized info that helps.

Parakitihi ia rā, ia rā. (Practice every day).

I've compiled a list of stuff you can pick and choose from: