Embrace te reo: Minister continuing te reo legacy of his mother

Mihiterina Harrington is one of the founding Kōhanga reo teachers with her son Te Aorangi that took all her teachings with him in life.
Photo / Matai O’Connor
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Rātana Minister Te Aorangi Harrington hopes more people will embrace te reo Māori for the betterment of themselves and others as he has seen over his life as a son of a kōhanga reo teacher.
“Embracing te reo Māori will take you on a journey that you will never regret,” Harrington says.
He was born in Gisborne and from a young age moved to Wellington where he did all his schooling.
Harrington is of Ngāti Rangiwaho and Ngāi Tamanuhiri descent. His marae is Rangiwaho nestled in Tawatapu (Bartlett’s) before the Wharerata ranges.
He is the son of Mihiterina Harrington, who was one of the first teachers as part of kōhanga reo at Pipitea Marae in Wellington.
“Her dedication and passion for preserving te reo Māori have left an indelible mark on my life and many others,” he said.
In 1982, his mother and her colleagues made history by getting a licence that allowed the kōhanga to receive subsidies from the Social Welfare department for children from low-income families.
“This symbolises a significant milestone in the movement to revitalise te reo Māori,” he said.
He saw the tireless efforts of his mother and other educators working to protect the language, culture and identity. He was often brought along to hui where he would listen to the kōrero from the leaders of kōhanga reo movement.
“Kōhanga reo was not just a place of learning but a sanctuary where tamariki and mokopuna could immerse themselves in te reo Māori.
“As a son, I am immensely proud of my mother’s contributions. Her work laid the foundation for future generations to thrive in a world where te reo Māori is celebrated and cherished.
“My mother’s legacy lives on through the countless children who have passed through the doors of kōhanga reo, including her own mokopuna, my own tamariki.
“As we celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, let us honour the pioneers like my mother who paved the way for us. Their sacrifices and dedication have ensured that te reo Māori continues to thrive.”
Mihiterina, who lives in Tawatapu, said seeing the growth of te reo Māori was amazing.
“The children today know who they are and are confident in who they are,” she said. “Kohanga reo was always strong, from the day it started it still is.”
“Don’t be afraid of te reo Māori,” she said.
These thoughts have been instilled in Te Aorangi as he has used te reo Māori throughout his life in many ways.
As a Rātana Church minister, he speaks Māori constantly as the prayers and waiata are all in te reo.
Rātana is a Māori movement that was founded by Tahupōtiki Wiremu Ratana in 1918 and became the Ratana Church in 1925 based at Rātana Pā, near Whanganui.
He became a minister 12 years ago, after committing to the faith with his wife, Tiowaana, and slowly moving to the front after the elders noticed his commitment to the faith.
Harrington also worked with Cliff Whiting and the team to help move Te Hau-Ki-Tūranga, a wharenui that was displayed in Dominion Museum, to Te Papa Museum in Wellington in the 1990s.
It was an honour to be involved in that and he learnt a lot about his whakapapa and history, he said.
He has held many different roles across Aotearoa. He was the Māori liaison and chaplain in the New Zealand Fire Service before becoming a non-violence programme facilitator at Tauawhi Men’s Centre.
Harrington moved back to Gisborne 10 years ago after living in Te Tai Tokerau, where he was a hauora Māori adviser for the district health board, including working with kura kaupapa.
Then he got the calling to come home.
“I had been coming back for tangi and was asked when would I be coming home. It just made sense to.”
Harrington also created the Wairua Ora programme for Te Whare Tu Whānau/Gisborne Women’s Refuge.
Work he did around emotional management helped fill in gaps in this and other programmes.
“There was not much focus around identity and whakapapa. A lot of the men who would come in wouldn’t know anything about who they are or where they come from, so it was about connecting them back to their whakapapa and learning bits of te reo Māori.”
Many had been inspired to continue their journey of learning te reo Māori.
The learnings he offers to men are from his own experiences as a husband and as a father to Otiria, Omanaia, Omahia-mai-tawhiti and Heaven-Sent.
“Te reo has been a big part of my journey to being a better dad and husband. I have seen my kids grow up knowing their language, culture and tikanga. It has helped make them more confident in themselves.”
“If there is a kupu (word) that I would share to those thinking about learning te reo Māori, it is to embrace it.”
“E kore tōku reo e ngaro, he kakano nō Tūranganui-a-Kiwa.
“My language will never be lost, as I am a seed from Turanga.”
Matai O’Connor, Ngāti Porou, has been a journalist for five years and Kaupapa Māori reporter at the Gisborne Herald for two years.

Matai O’Connor, Ngāti Porou, has been a journalist for five years and Kaupapa Māori reporter at the Gisborne Herald for two years.