Mike McRoberts Reclaims His Ancestral Language After Seven Years

Broadcaster and author Mike McRoberts has embarked on a significant journey to reclaim his ancestral language, Te Reo Māori. In his recently published book, titled Speaking My Language Te Kōrero i Tōku Reo, he reflects on his path towards full immersion in the language, which culminated in 2023. McRoberts candidly shares the challenges he faced, stating, “I felt the intense whakamā of not being able to speak te reo” and the “emptiness born of a disconnect from my Māoritanga.”

McRoberts has roots in Ngāti Kahungunu o te Wairoa and is connected to Pūtahi marae near Frasertown. He recalled how his family would visit Wairoa for Christmas every few years, a tradition that kept him connected to his heritage. He mentioned, “If it hadn’t been for those trips, I could have gone through my whole childhood and adolescence in Ōtautahi/Christchurch without ever having heard a word of Māori spoken.” His father, along with other Māori from Wairoa, moved to Christchurch for trades training, settling down and raising a family.

Despite being part of the Māori community in Christchurch, McRoberts felt a sense of loss when he returned to Wairoa. “If the opportunity had been there for me to do kapa haka or to learn te reo Māori, I know I would have done it,” he expressed. He acknowledged a lingering bitterness about the missed opportunities, stating that at some point, one must take action. “You just got to say ‘ok well it wasn’t there’, get off your ass and do something now, and that’s what I did a few years ago.”

Reflecting on the progress of Te Reo Māori, McRoberts urged people to recognize how far the language has come. He empathized with those who feel anxious about engaging with the language, particularly non-Māori citizens, saying, “Once you get into it, it’s always given with aroha.”

McRoberts began taking language classes at Whakaata Māori several years ago. He found the experience empowering and enjoyed the structure of the classroom. However, he did not continue after the course ended. “I could have gone on; I had enough confidence to have gone to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and done night classes or whatever, but I didn’t,” he admitted. In his book, he reflects on this regret, stating, “I wasted seven years of my life not being on that journey.”

In 2023, McRoberts recommitted to learning Te Reo by enrolling in a rūmaki or full immersion course at Te Wānanga Takiura. He balanced this with his responsibilities as a news presenter, even contemplating taking a break from his role. “In the end, it wasn’t a hard decision. I think I just got to a point where I had to do it,” he explained.

Learning a language is inherently challenging, but McRoberts noted that for Māori seeking to learn Te Reo Māori as a second language, the process can be particularly daunting. “Why is it so hard? Why am I so useless?” he reflected on his initial struggles, connecting his feelings of inadequacy to his identity. “You go through massive anxiety,” he confessed.

Despite these challenges, McRoberts has gained confidence in public speaking at cultural events, such as pōwhiri and mihi whakatau. He emphasized that while conversing in Te Reo takes time and patience, he is not rushing the process. “I know I’m going to be learning this for the rest of my life,” he stated, embracing the lifelong journey ahead.

Through his experiences, McRoberts aims to inspire others in their own journeys to reconnect with their heritage and language, illustrating the profound impact of reclaiming one’s identity through language.