Kia ora!
It's 2025 - Welcome to the beginning of something extraordinary.
If youāve ever felt the pull to learn te reo MÄori - the language of our ancestors - youāre in the right place.
Maybe youāve tried before but felt stuck.
Maybe life got in the way.
Maybe youāve been waiting for the right moment.
That moment is now.
I was once a clueless "Mozzie" longing for cultural connection with no idea where to start.
Metaphorically, I felt like I was stuck in a house observing my culture through a fixed window. I could see it, I knew it was there, but I had no idea how to access it.
Fast forward to today, I've transformed that fixed window into an expansive and wide-open doorway.
I've learnt that Cultural Connection isn't just about language, its about connection - and connection comes in many forms; people, knowledge, history, whakapapa, tikanga, stories, and whÄnau.
Starting In Te Reo MÄori began as an expression of my own Cultural Connection, and as an avenue for people that I knew were just like me...stuck in that whare looking out a fixed window, sitting, waiting, wishing as they say...
And over the years I've found 1000's of people just like me. 1000's of people in search of Cultural Connection that have found the SITRM kaupapa and have since flourished on their journey!
This space is here for you: to inspire, to guide, and to remind you that youāre not alone. Whether you're just starting out or reigniting your passion for te reo, weāre building this kaupapa together.
What you can expect from this newsletter:
- Simple tips to create your own immersion environment.
- Stories of triumph (and struggle) to keep you inspired.
- Resources to grow your reo, one step at a time.
- My own experiences and lessons
Your reo journey doesnāt have to be stop-start anymore. Itās time to take off, to soar, and to make progress that lasts.
The first step? Commit to showing up for yourself.
I look forward to walking this journey with you...mauri ora.
Grant Whitbourne - Te WhÄnau-a-Apanui
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