What It Means To Speak Your Own Language

Yes. Surely, yes. Our wairua exists beyond death. And our reo never fully died, despite sanctioned strategies to rip up the land and scorch the seeds of language and connection. All cruelty comes from weakness. But we are a strong people. And because of resistance, persistence, and courage, our language is being cultivated again, sown even stronger, nourishing more and more every day.

Author:Natasha Lampard (Whakatōhea, Ngāpuhi, Pākehā) is the co-founder and director of Webstock, co-founder of Lil Regie and creator of Extraordinary Tales of Strength & Daring. She completed an MA in Creative Writing at Te Pūtahu Tuhi Auaha o te Ao, IIML.

source: Natasha Lampard 2022 – TURBINE | KAPOHAU

Despite the current National + ACT + NZ First coalition government's quick, persistent, and ongoing attacks on Māori via their language te reo is never going away. Government agencies, companies, the general hoi polloi are all becoming well versed in hearing te reo, using te reo, and expecting it it in so many circumstances. New Zealanders of all types have long known it's one of the defining characteristics of being "New Zealand", just look at those doing their Big OE and how many differentiate themselves from Australians and South Africans on arrival in London by wrapping themselves in Māori emblems with a hearty, "Kia ora", and throw around of a smiling "Ka pai" at the drop of a beer.

Te reo, as Tash says, "is being cultivated again, sown even stronger, nourishing more and more every day.", and nothing this pathetic Government can do will change that.

• Mōrena by me, June 20, 2023
• What Does A Language Mean To People by me, April 27, 2024
• Why is the New Zealand government cutting Māori words from some school books? by Eva Corlett, 20 Aug 2025
• Government updates official branding to highlight English over te reo Māori by Craig McCulloch, 20 May 2026
• Māori Face a Reversal of Rights Under Coalition Government by Cat Woods, Feb 13, 2024
• Changes around Māori language come into focus as New Zealand government approaches 100-day milestone by Emily Clark, 3 Mar 2024
• The government banned te reo in the past. It won’t succeed again by Te Kuru o te Marama Dewes, December 21, 2023

By the way, Tash is a beautiful writer, check out On Flowers

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