6 Quakers learning Te Reo Maori one rakau at a time - adventures with Te Ataarangi

Last year the Nelson Quaker Meeting hosted a visit by Quentin Abraham from Wellington Quaker Meeting. Quentin has a ministry creating awareness of colonisation's negative impacts on Maori wellbeing in every sphere, but especially in the near loss of the Maori language.  Quakers have a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Quentin's challenge to us was to honour that by learning to speak te Reo Maori.  Several members in the Meeting have studied Te Reo without being able to speak it. One grew up with her father fluent in Te Reo but she didn't learn it from him.

Our response to Quentin's challenge was to decide to form a group and seek a Te Ataarangi teacher recommended to us, Maria Oxnam,  who might be able to work with us.  Initially there were 11 of us keen to get started.

The local Te Ataarangi organisation invited us to apply formally, and in the end 6 of us did so. The others were for one reason or another unable to continue.  We were assigned a different teacher but they weren't able to take up the role and we were assigned Maria. We are blessed to be learning with such a gentle, patient,  knowledgeable and personable teacher.

We 6 Quakers share our lessons with 6 other interesting learners, all of us pretty much beginners despite exposure some have had to academic study of Te Reo. We are asked not to rely on written notes, but to learn through the oral tradition.  In session we do not use English, and Maria uses sign langauge to get our attention and communicate process. She speaks new words and phrases in Te Reo and encourages repetition as we learn the sounds from her and each other. We are asked not to correct each other or prompt each other but to focus on our own learning.  We guess the meaning of new words from context, but after sessions can make notes and check out meaning.  

On its website Te Ataarangi is clear on its learning principles, which are based around humility and respect. “Te Ataarangi is a total-immersion approach to learning the language. It has a focus on creating a safe enviroment for learners to develop their skills in communicating in everyday language.”  "Since its beginnings in 1979, Te Ataarangi has engaged Māori communities in learning Māori in homes and on Marae. People from all walks of life are drawn towards this learner friendly method of learning language. Provided with a supportive learning environment you move at your own pace. Like a whāriki (woven mat), the language is interwoven with tikanga Māori and opens the door to the Māori world."

3 times a year we will come together on a Saturday for extended lessons alongside other students who have been learning for years. Our first, a couple of weeks ago, introduced us to Matariki, the names of the stars and their roles in Te Ao Maori. This briefest of introductions made Matariki meaningful in a way it would not otherwise have been.  We recommend this way of learning Te Reo and about Te Ao Maori to everyone. 

(image from the Te Ataarangi website)