Debbie Packer, kaiarataki of the Ruanui iwi, is happy to share her thoughts on the Maori language and the history of Maori in our area.
The title kaiarataki can be interpreted to mean chief executive officer and means being a leader to implement iwi strategy, political, economic and social direction. "We have a saying; 'it takes many strands to make a rope strong'. Kaiarataki is one of those strands."
Debbie says while more people are speaking te reo, the quality of the language is being dispersed and there is still hard work to be done to "learn it, speak it, transfer it and hold it".
Adding that it is imperative for our tamariki (children) to learn Maori, Debbie explains that learning it also assists in growing our children's diversity and learning of other languages and cultures as the world merges across educational, economic and social borders.
Ngati Ruanui has an extensive and rich history in the region with 10 marae and 16 hapu, Debbie says.