Why learning Te Reo is important to me.

Learning a few key words at school was something I just didn't realise would be so important to me now as a 47 year old woman working for Microsoft. It was my kids coming home showing me the latest Maori song or words that made me really see how little Te Reo I remembered. Today kicking off Maori Language week where I did my first Mihi. I can’t remember feeling this nervous in a long time. I gave it a go anyway and it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I was so proud having my son in the audience watching me give this a go. We had the Kapa Haka Group of St Joseph’s Orakei perform which was simply outstanding and many had a few tears. An amazing Hui with a shared Hangi lunch has kicked off our amazing week to learn more, embrace our history and give a mihi a go.

My Mihi :

Kia ora

Tena Koutou, tena Koutou, tena koutou katoa

 Nau mai , Nau mai

 No te Atatu ahau

 No orakei ahau

 Ko (sorenson) te whanau 

Ko (Vanessa) ahau 

Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou 

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa

Nga mihi, Vanessa Sorenson, Enterprise Director