When did you last need help?
Whetū | Tauranga
Whetū (Ngāti Kahungunu) is a fresh graduate of Te Tohu Paetahi, the University of Waikato’s one-year immersion te reo Māori language programme. She spoke to us about the perpetual struggle to be in two places at the same time and finding the time and energy to look after your own ambitions and those of your whānau.
“He roa te wā i ako au i te reo Māori. Kua mōhio kē taku tāne, tērā taku wawata. I tuku pātai au ki taku tāne ka matea au. Te āwhina mai te tiaki ehara te tiaki nā te kaitaraiwa, i taraiwa ā māua tamaiti ki tōna whakangungu poitūkohu. Maha ngā kaupapa. Maha ngā wawata. We want to be here and there. I want to be here learning, diving deep into my reo, but I also want my son to have those opportunities to grow in his game.
And then tōna pāpā mahia te mahi ia rā, ia rā. Ka haere ia ki te mahi ki te whiwhi moni, te whiwhi pūtea. Kei korā mai i ngā maha o ngā kaupapa e tino pau kaha. Kua pau te kaha, kua pau te hau. And it just becomes tiring. Āe, trying to be everywhere at once and getting everyone to their kaupapa. Nō reira i tēnei rā kua oti mātou te kōrero ā-waha tuatahi o tēnei pepa raumati. Nō reira i tēnei ata, tino nui te āwangawanga te pōkaikaha. Ināianei, āhua wātea kua tutuki au ki te kaupapa.”
English translation:
“I’ve been learning te reo Māori for some time. And my partner has always known that is my dream. I asked my partner for help as I needed assistance to drive our child to their basketball training. There’s lots of things to attend to. Lots of dreams. We want to be here and there. I want to be here learning, diving deep into my reo, but I also want my son to have those opportunities to grow in his game.
And then his father is at work everyday, working to earn income. And because of having so many things to attend to, you get exhausted. I’m tired and exhausted. And it just becomes tiring, trying to be everywhere at once and getting everyone to their kaupapa. And so today, we’ve just completed our first oral assignment for this summer paper. And so this morning, I was really worried and stressed out. But now, I’m somewhat free now that I’ve completed it. In a way, I was able to still meet those aspirations, I guess, and develop where I want to be.”
Our question for kaikōrero this month was “when did you last need help?” We learned about the diverse demands on the lives of New Zealanders and the incredible support networks they rely on. We got to meet three fresh graduates of Te Tohu Paetahi and spoke to them about the impact reclaiming their language has had on their lives.
