Tū kē Tongariro,
Motu kē a Taranaki,
He riri ki a Pihanga,
Waiho i muri nei,
Te uri ko au—e!
Ko Gabriel Tongaawhikau tōku ingoa.
I am a learning specialist in mātauranga Māori at the Auckland Museum. I typically deliver programmes based in science and mātauranga Māori to toddlers, children, and adults. Some of my favourite moments working here at the Museum has been seeing how engaged children are when I incorporate Māori words and mātauranga Māori into mainstream programming. However, the most rewarding part of my work has been teaching our total immersion children in te reo and watching them thrive in spaces which have been historically an exclusionary or traumatic space for Te Ao Māori in the past.
The introduction of the New Zealand’s history’s curriculum has ensured that local Māori history will be taught to all children across Aotearoa. I have seen the passion in many teachers during our adult workshops and the willingness to learn more about Māori settlement, treaty issues, land wars and how this still affects Māori communities today. If the discussions I have had with these teachers is any indicator of where we will be in the next 50 years, then the future for te ao Māori and te reo Māori will surely be bright and prosperous.