TW, K1: Whaikorero; maori television 20140820 2000, Wahanga 6 1

[@neiltf1173]

Nga mihi, faafetai lava, Thank you for this! I am a Aotearoa born Samoan, who has had to whaikorero on behalf of my family at a Tangi held at our local Marae in Dunedin. I spoke first in Samoan and then Tuvaluan, on behalf of the region's and villages my blood descends from. I was 18 at the time and wasnt nurtured to speak. But when I arrived a tangi my nana looked at be and said speak, papas not here, uncles gone. Speak. I then realised that I am now the eldest Male from my mothers bloodline not only am I speaking for the Vā between my direct family but now for 4 generations of my whole extended aiga... this video has helped me with so many questions I had that day. I know I need to be prepared for the next, because one day we all fall into place in our family's, tribes, clans, communities and villages. Whether we are ready or not!

[@reboot9247]

Thats a beautiful korero brother. I was taken out of NZ when I was 6 my dad moved us to Australia, but he always kept our maori in the house, we had karakia every night, and he would teach me karakia every now and then, but he got so busy with work 12 hour graveyard shifts so he couldnt spend much time with me, he was exhausted. Eventually over the years i got lost in the goodlife, drinking, party and so on, I had alot of half cast aborignal friends and I knew alot about there culture more then my own. It wasnt till 2012 that I had a strong urge to learn more of my maori, so i learnt about our history, land wars, chants karakia youtube documentries, anything i could find recited them daily even at my job, i would be constantly reciting and chanting karakia that i had learnt and i didnt no why. My other 2 older brothers didnt want to know any thing maori but they respected it. So In 2014 my dad passed, we took him back to nz, and at the marae as you know a son has to stand, my other 2 brothers couldnt as they could not speak te reo, So i did, with the permission of my mother and older brothers, I done my whaikorero to our father and for all of us, being the youngest who was brought up in Australia no one ever thought i would do this not even me, but now I know why i was so driven to learn in 2012 like a madman.. because my father was going to pass 2 years later, and 1 of his sons could stand for him and uphold his mana, I also hold his name that has been passed down for generations... now im back in NZ living in the town he grewup in with my mother, surrounded by hills and mountains taking my maori even further.... Wairua is so beautiful, it will lead you to what you are born to do... ka pai bro. Ngā mihi