Gore Health’s chief executive Karl Metzler and director Ceri Macleod were among a group of Gore Health senior management, directors and trustees who recently completed an eight-week te reo Māori course.
The course was taught by Southern Reap te kaiwhakahaere Māori, Jaki Eales.
Mrs MacLeod was born in Wales and although her family spoke English at home, she attended a Welsh medium school and learned to speak and write in Welsh.
She came to Gore in 2015.
Mr Metzler grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, and can speak five languages, including Xhosa and Zulu.
He settled in Gore in 1998.
Both agreed that learning te reo Māori was something all New Zealanders should do.
They said they were very impressed with Whaea (teacher) Jaki's enthusiasm, patience and teaching style.
“I think as good Treaty [of Waitangi] partners, we are obliged to learn te reo Māori," Mr Metzler said.
“I come from a place where English and a different language genuinely sit quite nicely alongside each other,” Mrs Macleod said.
Being willing as a community to allow two languages to function like that was not only important but it felt like “an obligation”, she said.
“So given it is such good fun and a chance to help build yourself give it a go, absolutely.”
When she first arrived in Gore there were many Māori names she did not know how to pronounce which caused her embarrassment, she said.
She not only wanted to be able to pronounce the words but know the meaning behind the words.
Doing the course together was a good team-building exercise.
“You knew you were learning in a safe, relaxed and fun environment.
“It’s a really good way of jumping in with two feet.”
Having a deeper understanding of Te Ao Māori was helpful in her workplace at the Hokonui Runanga where she is the Hokonui locality manager.
When it came time for a karakia, for example, she not only knew how to pronounce the words but the reasons for the karakia.
Mr Metzler said given the nation’s colonial history it was an "enormous privilege that Māori allow us and want to share their language and culture".
"It speaks to the incredible openness and tolerance of Māori towards other cultures."
If a person genuinely wanted to understand a culture they needed to make an effort to understand the language, he said.
"They are so inextricably woven."
There were many different ethnicities in New Zealand but it was the nation’s Māori heritage which set New Zealanders apart, he said.
"That’s what gives New Zealand its unique flavour."
Taking part in the course had taken him out of his comfort zone but it was good to do that every now and then.
He loved the concept of whanaungatanga or connectedness that was built when people shared their mihi.
During a mihi or greeting to others the speaker gave information that included family details and where the person was from.
"It’s a lot warmer and deeper than just saying I’m Karl from Gore.
"That doesn’t tell you anything, really," Mr Metzler said.
Gore Health directors decided to initiate the course and invite trustees and senior staff to attend, he said.
"We wanted to commit to being better citizens and better Treaty partners and lifting our cultural competency as an organisation."
