Buck Shelford brings back te reo Maori

Former All Black and New Zealand Maori captain Buck Shelford says it is important to know how to speak te reo Maori, following his induction into a total-immersion Maori language programme.

Shelford began the Te Ataarangi course last year and said it had added a lot to his understanding of all things Maori.

"I've just hit the point in life where I wanted to learn my language because ... we should understand our culture first," he said.

"It's a lovely language. It is frustrating not being able to understand what is being said on the marae but I'm getting there."