Whakatāne is my tūrangawaewae: It's where I'm from and where my family has lived for generations.
I have a strong sense of belonging and connection to my hometown, something I believe comes from deep within me, from the small part that is Māori.
Despite this, I hesitated over sharing my pepeha with the world because I am, for all intents and purposes, Pākehā.
My looks are Pākehā and, while I feel a strong connection to parts of Māori culture, I live a very Pākehā life and only occasionally brush up against other aspects of the culture when I interact with my Māori relatives.
Frankly, talking about my connection to the culture this way makes me uncomfortable - it makes me feel like an imposter, like those white people who are criticised for wearing indigenous American headdresses, appropriating something they don't fully understand or appreciate.
I'm wary of being held up as an example of one of those "one-eighth Māoris" so lambasted by a certain section of society, and the negative reflection this could have on a people that already face so much stigma in their homeland.
Learning my pepeha at school was a big deal - it gave me a real appreciation for my tie to Māori culture and helped me understand my sense of belonging.
Te reo should never be dismissed as unimportant.
It means so much to so many people, even those like myself who are still grappling with the complexities of identity.
We as a country are richer for it.
