Mike McRoberts Reclaims Māori Language After Seven-Year Journey

Award-winning broadcaster Mike McRoberts has taken significant steps towards reclaiming his Māori heritage through language. In his new book, Speaking My Language Te Kōrero i Tōku Reo, McRoberts shares his experiences of striving for full immersion in Te Reo Māori throughout 2023. He expresses feelings of deep disappointment for having spent seven years disconnected from his ancestral language and culture.

Reflecting on his past, McRoberts describes feeling a profound sense of whakamā, or shame, for not being able to speak Te Reo. He articulates an “emptiness born of a disconnect from my Māori identity.” His family lineage traces back to Ngāti Kahungunu in Wairoa, and he recalls annual trips to his hometown that served as a critical connection to his roots. “If it hadn’t been for those trips, I could have gone through my whole childhood and adolescence in Christchurch without ever having heard a word of Māori spoken,” he remarked during an interview with Julian Wilcox on the show Māpuna.

McRoberts’ father was among several Māori individuals who moved to Christchurch for trades training, ultimately settling there. He noted the striking differences in appearance when his family returned from Wairoa, humorously recalling, “You go to Wairoa, who the hell irons their jeans?” Although McRoberts enjoyed a supportive upbringing within the Māori community in Christchurch, he often felt a sense of yearning during his visits 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 said, expressing a lingering regret about missed opportunities. “It’s hard not to carry that bitterness forever. At some point, you’ve just got to say, ‘Okay, well, it wasn’t there,’ get off your ass and do something now, and that’s what I did a few years ago.”

Returning to language learning, McRoberts emphasizes the progress made in revitalizing Te Reo, even if it can feel slow at times. “Having come to my language so late in life, I kind of understand where a lot of our population is coming from,” he said, acknowledging the anxiety many feel about engaging with their cultural heritage. He described a common fear among Māori and non-Māori alike regarding exposure, humiliation, and the fear of being left behind.

In pursuit of his goal, McRoberts began attending language classes at Whakaata Māori several years ago. He found the structured environment of the akomanga, or classroom, empowering. However, after the course ended, he didn’t continue his studies. “I could have gone on; I had enough confidence then to have gone to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and done night classes or whatever, but I didn’t. I wasted seven years of my life not being on that journey,” he candidly admitted.

In 2023, McRoberts committed to an immersive language course at Te Wānanga Takiura, all while maintaining his role as a news presenter, albeit with reduced hours. He often contemplated whether he should take a break from the news to focus on his studies. “In the end, it wasn’t a hard decision,” he noted. “I had to do it.”

Learning any language presents challenges, but McRoberts highlighted that for Māori individuals learning Te Reo as a second language, the journey can be particularly daunting. He expressed feelings of inadequacy, questioning his abilities and what it meant for his identity. “This is going to sound arrogant, but I was used to winning. I was used to doing things and being successful at them… well, Dancing With the Stars was okay. Everything I’d done in life I’d been really successful at, and then all of a sudden I was at the bottom of my class and hanging on.”

McRoberts described his immersion experience with the term “rūmaki,” which translates as “to drown.” “I was drowning alright,” he said. However, he now feels more confident when engaging in whaikōrero at a pōwhiri or mihi whakatau, although he acknowledges that conversing in Te Reo still requires time and patience.

“It’s okay because I’m in no rush,” he concluded. “I know I’m going to be learning this for the rest of my life.” Through his journey, McRoberts not only reclaims his language but also contributes to the ongoing revitalization of Māori culture.