I’ve been trying to identify areas of my life where I can start us kōrero Māori. I’m looking for specific situations that occur fairly regularly, are well-defined, and where I have simple interactions with other people.

One area I have identified is around the dinner table and asking for different items to be passed to me.

Another, is taking my kids to the playground.

Here’s an assortment of statements/commands that I think will cover most playground adventures.

Kia tere! - Be quick!
Piki ake! - Climb up!
Here iho! - Get down!
Kia tūpato! - Be careful!
Ka haere tātou/tāua. - Let’s go.
Titiro ahu! - Look over there!
Titiro mai! - Look here!
Haere mai! - Come here!
He aha tērā? - What is that?

The Reo Project | Day 167

Welcome to my little corner of the internet.

I believe that place matters.

Our connection to whatever little corner of the planet we find ourselves in, or choose to place ourselves on, matters.

I'm relentlessly curious and continually learning.

My interests are scattered across topics including property, strategy, acoustics, psychology, theology, systems theory, quantum physics and leadership. I read, listen, watch, and learn about whatever grabs my attention in the moment.

This is a learning experiment.

I come here to try to make sense of something I’ve come across, by writing about it.

I’m immersing myself in a new language.

I’m learning to speak Te Reo Māori, the language of the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand and one of our official languages. After spending 2020 studying, I’m figuring out how to keep the journey going outside the classroom.

You’re welcome to follow along.