Mike McRoberts Reflects on Journey to Reclaim Te Reo Māori

Award-winning broadcaster Mike McRoberts has shared his personal journey towards reclaiming his ancestral language, Te Reo Māori, in his newly released book, Speaking My Language: Te Kōrero i Tōku Reo. In the book, he describes his struggles and triumphs in achieving full immersion in the language during 2023. Reflecting on his past, McRoberts expressed feelings of intense shame and a profound emptiness due to his disconnection from his Māori heritage.

Growing up, McRoberts was aware of his roots, tracing his lineage back to Ngāti Kahungunu in Wairoa. He recounts how his family would visit Wairoa every few years for Christmas, emphasizing the importance of these trips in maintaining his connection to his culture. Without those visits, he believes he might have gone through his entire childhood in Christchurch without ever hearing Māori spoken.

“My father was among those Māori from Wairoa who moved to Christchurch for trades training and stayed to raise a family,” McRoberts said during an interview with Julian Wilcox on the show Māpuna. He noted that his relatives seemed to return from Wairoa transformed, even going so far as to iron their jeans—something rare in his own upbringing.

Despite having a supportive Māori community in Christchurch, McRoberts felt an ongoing sense of loss. “If I had the chance to participate in kapa haka or learn Te Reo Māori, I would have jumped at it. It is difficult not to carry that bitterness forever, but at some point, you have to acknowledge it wasn’t available and take action,” he said.

McRoberts began taking language classes at Whakaata Māori several years ago, which he found empowering. Yet, he admits that he did not continue his studies after the course ended, a decision he now regrets. “I wasted seven years of my life not being on that journey,” he lamented.

In 2023, he took a significant step forward by enrolling in a full immersion course, known as a rūmaki, at Te Wānanga Takiura. Despite maintaining his role as a news presenter, he found the challenge of balancing both demanding. “There were times I thought I should take a year off from the news,” he explained, but ultimately decided continuing was the right choice.

Learning any language comes with challenges, and McRoberts noted that for Māori, learning Te Reo as a second language can be particularly daunting. “You question your abilities and what it means for your identity, experiencing significant anxiety,” he reflected. He described feeling as though he was at the bottom of his class, struggling in a learning environment designed for immersion.

Despite the challenges, McRoberts now feels a greater sense of confidence, particularly in delivering speeches and participating in Māori ceremonies. He recognizes that mastering Te Reo will take time, stating, “I am in no rush; I understand I will be learning this for the rest of my life.”

His journey underscores the broader narrative of language preservation and cultural reclamation, highlighting the necessity of addressing feelings of inadequacy and anxiety that many face when reconnecting with their roots. McRoberts’ story serves as an inspiring reminder that it is never too late to reclaim one’s heritage and embrace the journey of learning.