Tere Gilbert, Aotearoa (New Zealand), is a descendant of the Ngāti Kahungunu and Te Āti
Awa. Gilbert learnt her Indigenous language through immersion in Kohanga Reo (language nests). She says “He taonga tuku iho ō tātou reo rangatira. Kōrerohia, manaakitia kia ora ai mō ā tātou mokopuna.” Our chiefly languages have been handed down to us from our ancestors. We must speak our languages and care for them so they will survive for our future generations.