51萝莉

The intensive, one-year total immersion M膩ori language programme, which is taught at both the Tauranga and Hamilton campuses, was a 鈥渓ife-changing鈥� experience for the couple, says Deborah Wood (Ng膩ruahine, Ng膩ti Ruanui, Ng膩 Rauru).

鈥淜膩re he kupu鈥� I have no words to describe the experience. Our kaiako Ngairo Eruera was amazing; I feel really privileged to have been taught by him and Ahenata-May Daniels. It鈥檚 been life changing; my world has been turned upside down and is now facing the right way up,鈥� says Deborah.

A trained primary school teacher with a Master of Educational Leadership degree (also from Waikato University), Deborah decided to enrol in Te Tohu Paetahi in 2021 after being challenged 鈥渢o learn te reo M膩ori鈥� by a tumuaki from Ruat艒ria.

鈥淭his gave me the courage to chase something that has always been missing,鈥� says Deborah.

When he found out Deborah was doing the diploma, husband Jackson Wood (Ng膩ti Raukawa Ki Te Tonga, Ng膩ti T奴wharetoa, Ng膩ti Whakatere), decided to sign up too.

Together Deb and Jackson decided they wanted to role model to their children that reo M膩ori is important and together they wanted to bring the language and culture back into their wh膩nau.

鈥淚 have always wanted to be able to understand and speak te reo M膩ori,鈥� says Jackson, who had been working as a self-employed plumber and gas fitter before starting the programme. 鈥淭hen the opportunity came up for Deb and I to both study together.鈥�

Adds Deborah: 鈥淚t was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as I was the successful recipient of a full-year scholarship to learn te reo M膩ori through The Education Review Office.鈥�

Jackson down-sized his business to commit to full-time university study.

鈥淚 wanted to put all my efforts into this course,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was a bit of a leap of faith when I first floated the idea, and we initially thought there was no way [I could stop working], it was too out-of-the-square.鈥�

However, the support they got from lecturers, classmates and their family got them through the programme.

Their tamariki - Karleigh, 28, Jazmyn, 22, Jackson, 18, and Izzy, 13 - have been a source of encouragement and motivation for the couple.

The course has been immensely valuable to both Deborah and Jackson, personally and professionally.

Deborah鈥檚 current mahi as the Manager of Research and Evaluation at the Education Review Office in Wellington has largely focused research in Kaupapa M膩ori and M膩ori in English Medium schools. Deborah and her team are currently developing the framework for te reo M膩ori in English Medium.

Jackson is continuing his te reo study in 2022, and has benefitted from the strong foundation that TTP gave him.

鈥淚鈥檓 feeling more confident, and it鈥檚 opened my eyes up to more things in te ao M膩ori [the M膩ori world],鈥� says Jackson, whose mother was M膩ori and father was Scottish. 鈥淚 definitely feel a stronger connection to my whakapapa, and that I鈥檓 proud to be M膩ori.鈥�

Deborah and Jackson encourage others to take the leap, and commit to learning to te reo M膩ori.

鈥淟earning my own language has strengthened my own cultural identity, whakapapa knowledge and wh膩nau connections,鈥� says Deborah. 鈥淜nowing your first language is critical for understanding who you are, while contributing to the revitalisation of the language.鈥�