The Māori language is considered a national taonga (treasure) and is spoken by around one-quarter of New Zealanders.
For the ‘love’ of this language and Māori culture (mō te aroha ki te reo me te ahurea māori), a Punjabi journalist and radio presenter Parminder Singh recently graduated in Te Pōkaitahi Reo programme from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
An Indian immigrant, Mr Singh came to Auckland in 2001.
Before this move, he stayed in Sydney for two years before finally calling New Zealand home.
Mr Singh said he is in love with the local community, its culture and values.
He started his conversation with SBS Punjabi by saying, “Kia ora e te whānau”, which literally means welcome and greetings to the extended family.
Parminder Singh recently graduated in Te Pōkaitahi Reo programme from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. Source: Supplied
“I didn’t know much about New Zealand history or Māori culture, but my wife – who was also born and raised in India – was focusing on te ao Māori in her teaching degree,” he said.
“The reo and culture attracted me to such an extent that even I wanted to have a closer look and study the traditions and values of Māori people, so I began learning their native language (te reo māori).”
Mr Singh said another thing that attracted him was the similarities between Indian and Māori culture.
Parminder Singh is known for his services as a radio presenter and a Justice of Peace. Source: Supplied
“Studying in the Te Pōkaitahi Reo programme has allowed me to develop a totally beautiful and unique relationship with Māori communities in Auckland,” he added.
The learning has helped my work to bridge gaps between Māori and others in our multicultural communities.
Mr Singh is known for his services as a radio presenter, a Justice of Peace and for also serving as a community facilitator on the Manukau Police’s ethnic district board.
“Such was my love and respect for this language, I took my citizenship oath in te reo Māori, and again when I was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace,” he said.
“I had to put a lot of effort to be fluent and up to mark. Although people understand that you’re doing it from your heart still you don’t want to offend anyone by making mistakes in the pronunciation.”
Mr Singh said he has a very positive response from the local community.
Parminder Singh with his whānau (extended family). Source: Supplied
“They are the people who encourage me to continue promoting te reo in my Punjabi radio talkshows, in the news bulletins I read for radio stations around the world, and also in my work as a community advisor for Counties Manukau Police,” he added.
Mr Singh said that he still ‘cherishes’ the time he spent with the Māori people.
“It was a pre-requisite to stay two days and two nights with the community, at least three times during the language course, to know their stories and to understand their traditions and values,” he says.
He said that he loved to listen to the Maori elders who proudly shared their stories of bravery and struggle something that he could relate to his Sikh community.
“The most interesting part of the course was my participation in ‘marae’ which is a kind of the area for formal discussions in front of a meeting house that is often used in social and religious gatherings,” he added.
Mr Singh said that he felt proud after the recent completion of his language course.
Parminder Singh said the language program helped him develop a ‘beautiful and unique’ relationship with Māori communities. Source: Supplied
“It’s a really great feeling when I speak te reo Māori that I learnt through this course. It’s a privilege to break this language barrier to be part of this great country,” he says.
“We, as new immigrants, are thankful to this land where our Māori brothers and sisters have been living for many generations, and I believe we should know and respect their language, beliefs, protocols and values.”
Mr Singh also had a message to deliver - Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Kia Kaha te reo Māori is the theme for this year's Māori Language Week – ਆਓ, ਵਿਸ਼ਵੀਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਦੌਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਰ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਨੂੰ ਦਿਲੋਂ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਦੇਈਏ, ਮੋਹ ਨਾਲ! (In Punjabi)
Are you learning a language? Enter the SBS National Languages competition 2019 until 27 September 2019. For more details visit www.sbs.com.au/nlc19
Parminder Singh also works as a a community advisor for Counties Manukau Police, Auckland. Source: Supplied
