Pasifika numbers climb as popularity of te reo Māori courses soar

Pasifika in Auckland are embracing the opportunity to take up te reo Māori courses in increasing numbers.

New Zealand's educational institution Te Wānanga O Aotearoa recently launched its 2020 programme.

More than 30,000 students started their academic year at Te Wānanga campuses across the country last week, and 1500 of them have enrolled to learn Te Reo Rangatira at its Auckland campus.

Last year, 5142 Pākehā, 5094 Māori, 283 Asians and 499 Pasifika enrolled for te reo programmes at Te Wānanga.

Head of Student Experience Shanan Halbert said the orientation day and welcoming pōwhiri event was into its second year and he was happy to see more Pasifika motivated to learn how to speak te reo Māori with confidence.

"We have a large whanau. We have a high percentage of the local Pacific community and new migrants coming through to study re reo Māori which we think is great," he said.

"I know that 30 percent of our roll in Auckland are our whanau from Te Moana-nui-a Kiwa - from the Pacific Islands.

"So, there's a large number of Pacific students studying with us."

Cook Islander Rex Matenga completed a te reo course last year and now tutors English at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Mr Matenga said he worked with Māori but his students were non-Māori and came from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

"The reason why I took up te reo was being staff here at Te Wānanga - I should have some knowledge or skill of the language because it's part of their protocol. To actually have some insight on the language te reo Māori."

Mr Matenga said his confidence in te reo had grown and that being able to speak the Cook Islands language also helped him as the two languages had some similarities.

The waiting list for te reo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has climbed to 600 people already.

While he felt for Māori who were missing out on the programme, Mr Matenga said there were other programmes available for them.

"There are other places they can learn te reo - like at the Manukau institution they have awanuiarangi," he said.

"And they are also part of their own iwi or their own tribe and they have a marae that they attend.

"I believe they should start a school in their own marae - it's one way to solve the issue."

Manager Maria-Pare Te Whiu said she was aware some Māori were missing out, but Te Wānanga O Aotearoa was established for everybody.

"We just look at the demand. Whoever comes in whether they are Māori or not. It's the people that are eager to dedicate themselves to the programme," she said.

Ms Te Whiu said one of the challenges they faced was a lack of teachers.

"We are looking at programmes to further enhance and upskill our tutors to meet the demand," she said.

Fijian Elenoa McKay attended her first te reo class recently and said learning the language, history and culture of Aotearoa was a privilege.

But the 31-year-old said her inspiration to study te reo came from a four-year-old boy.

"My nephew, who has Māori heritage, doesn't have his mum around anymore," she said.

"And for me, it's like a learning experience in that I can share what I learn with him and for him to know his culture and background."

Ms McKay, who also speaks fluent Fijian, said she looked forward to speaking Māori with confidence.

"When you migrate to another country and you adopt that country as your home, it's important to learn and respect the culture and the language."