"If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change"

There's a saying that I'm sure you've all heard, that goes, "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone".



In most situations, this is so. For this particular topic, I don't believe it is. It might not be gone, but it's gotten fairly close. Yet my generation, didn't seem to get the memo. Me included. How much of a wake-up call do we need?



I'm talking about Te Reo Māori.





Last week, my Treaty of Waitangi lecture was given by Glenis Philip-Barbara. She is the CEO of the Māori Language Commission. It was a really interesting lecture. At the end of her lecture she showed us a video montage, of the journey of Te Reo Māori. I cried. Thankfully, so did the girl sitting in front of me.



The video really made me think about the sacrifice that others have made in their lives, to ensure there are opportunities for people like me, and you, to learn Te Reo Māori. These people, fought so hard, and were labelled then as "Māori Radicals" for fighting for the survival of a beautiful language. Oh, and for delivering a petition to government. That's hardly Tame Iti territory?



Glenis posed a question at the end of her lecture. She basically asked if our own personal journey, was reflective of the effort of those who fought so hard for Te Reo Māori.



Our ancestors were once physically disciplined for speaking Te Reo Māori in school. It was once against the law to use Te Reo Māori in court proceedings. Te Reo Māori once had NO part in mainstream education.



We don't have to worry to the same extent now, because people, fought against this, for what they believed to be right, and for what?



Have you taken advantage of the opportunities their hard work has provided?



I know that I haven't. I took Maori in high school, but what's next for my journey?



I want to be able to teach my children to speak Te Reo Māori. Generational learning, is the best hope for the survival of the Māori language.



People fought so hard, so that we could even be given the opportunity.

And here we stand, my generation, most of us turning it down.

Have we no respect for ourselves, our culture and our ancestors?



It's just not good enough. Time to make a change.