Te Wiki o te reo Māori: 'To learn te reo Māori when I was still young, it was like an investment'

21-year-old Anaru Palmer. Photo / Supplied

Anaru Palmer (Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāi Te Rangi) has made it his mission to learn te reo Māori while he's still young.

And the 21-year-old, who is under way in his journey learning the language, is putting in the work to encourage others to do the same.

He gained the diploma in Te Tohu Paetahi – a one-year total immersion Māori language programme at the University of Waikato in 2019.

Last year he also graduated from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa with a diploma in Te Pīnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi.

He has spent more than a year working as a teacher aide in the bilingual unit at his former school – Tauranga Boys' College – where he helps guide junior students.

Palmer is also in his first year of completing a bachelor of social science at the University of Waikato majoring in Māori and indigenous studies and political science.

"I never grew up speaking te reo Māori," Palmer said.

"College was a turning point because I took on Māori for NCEA – but the reason behind it was to get credits."

But by the end of high school, he didn't remember as much as he had hoped.

"I wanted to be able to converse, and articulate myself in the reo," he said.

"To learn te reo Māori when I was still young, it was like an investment."

The one-year immersion course at the University of Waikato Tauranga Campus "changed everything" for Palmer.

"It enabled me to kickstart a te reo Māori journey where I could be consistent and immerse myself in it," Palmer said.

"The learning was tough, but I figured it would be a good opportunity to seek growth."

He was keen to be able to speak with whānau in te reo, and said learning the language was a "core element" in understanding te ao Māori.

"If I develop my understanding of te reo Māori, then I can better understand the culture. Te reo Māori and Māori culture go hand in hand," he said.

"It allowed me to have more perspective on how I saw the world around me. And just be calm, and breathe. They are characteristics that te reo Māori reflects – it has this harmonious energy about it."

Palmer said it was "humbling to see the boys flourish" in the bilingual unit at Tauranga Boys' College.

"It is really just guiding them in their respective journeys through this thing called college life," he said.

They were regularly practising kapa haka, carving and mau rākau, he said.

"It is real cool being able to observe the boys making the most of those opportunities. A lot of what they do reflects Māori culture."

He believed now was a "more important time than ever" for young people to help "conserve and protect" te reo Māori.

"Everyone has an obligation to use what they know, share what they know. It is a collective effort in ensuring that te reo Māori lasts for future generations."

"Young people need to lead the efforts in conversing in and conserving te reo Māori."

His advice to those who were considering learning the language was to "give it everything" despite the challenge.

"Trust the process and realise that everyone is there for the same reason."