"At work, as a staff, we watched The Bold and the Beautiful and we would sit there as a staff, because our language was generally the same, and our boss would translate it. We got to hear something said, the boss translated it and we were able to ask 'well how come you used this tense?' Secondly, and the most important way, was my whanau and my work environment was a nice safe context to take a risk and to speak it."
Mrs Clarke learnt through Mr Clarke. The car they owned when they first met didn't pick up the radio and they spent a lot of time travelling which meant a lot of time to korero Maori.
"It was also time at home with his whanau listening to them. It took me a little while because he'd be on the phone talking to his mum in te reo Maori. Now I can understand it. So in those early years it was listening to it, being around it and trying," Mrs Clarke said.
When Mr and Mrs Clarke decided they wanted a whanau of their own, it was important te reo Maori would be the language they used when speaking to their children. Monet-Mei Clarke, 19, the couple's eldest daughter said it has had huge benefits for her.
"I find it very handy. At [Tikipunga High School] I spent a lot of my time in the Maori department and it helped me, especially with kapa haka and understanding the songs we did."
Her sister, Charlie-May Clarke, 17, said being able to korero Maori has helped her as head girl of Tikipunga High School.
"It's always been great to know Maori, I always had a connection with people because they know I speak Maori. When I'm speaking in assemblies I can speak Maori to kids. It is a great way to be role model and encourage them to speak Maori."
Mr Clarke said he knows what it is like to have te reo Maori, and what it is like to not have it. "And I know which one I prefer."
Click here to read the story about a Northland whanau determined to gain fluency
