Regardless of where you are on your journey, don’t be affraid to speak te reo, was the key take away for Brandon Manuel on a recent full-immersion te reo Māori wānanga.

The Healthy Families Ōtautahi Māori Systems Innovator, attended the 3 days and 4 nights of teachings held at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae and Te Kura o Waikirikiri in Gisborne, aimed to foster and develop “Te Reo Ake o Ngāti Porou”. 

Attendees were required to speak, write and understand te reo, including having the confidence to converse in te reo.

For Brandon, who hails from the East Coast and is a second language learner of te reo, the Kura Reo 2023 provided a safe platform to engage in te reo me ōnā tikanga as well as developing his knowledge and capability to communicate in the dialect of his own Iwi, Ngāti Porou.

“I actually felt quite nervous, being in a space that pushes you outside your comfort zone.”

The chance to attend was mentioned through a whanaunga of Brandon’s, Wiremu Mato, Kaiwhatu Mana Ōrite with Ihi Aotearoa Sport New Zealand.  

“It was a real privellge to attend as full immersion opportunities don’t come around too often, and it allows us to stay current and legitimise the kōrero we deliver.”

The wānanga sold out within minutes of opening, with the 160 participants attending from across the motu.

When it comes to his own work, Brandon says, “ngā taonga tuku iho (knowledge passed down from our ancestors) is used to guide and inform my mahi.”

For us all at Healthy Families Ōtautahi, having strength in our internal te ao Māori capability will put us in a better position to support local Māori in our mahi.