{"id":4311,"date":"2025-07-23T02:56:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T02:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/?p=4311"},"modified":"2025-08-06T02:58:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T02:58:52","slug":"maori-musicians-reo-maori-journey-leads-to-wananga-kaiako-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/maori-musicians-reo-maori-journey-leads-to-wananga-kaiako-role\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u0101ori musician’s reo M\u0101ori journey leads to w\u0101nanga kaiako role"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Musician and kaiako, Jordyn Rapana, also known as Jordyn with a Why, began her reo M\u0101ori journey with her husband, Thomas Rapana (Ng\u0101puhi), during her pregnancy with their eldest child. Their goal was to raise their tamariki in a M\u0101ori-speaking home.<\/p>

\u201cI ahau e hap\u016b ana, i te whakaaro m\u0101ua ko taku t\u0101ne, you know what, kei te hiahia m\u0101ua kia tupu M\u0101ori mai ng\u0101 tamariki,\u201d\u00a0<\/em>says Jordyn.<\/p>

Growing up in South Auckland with Samoan heritage on her mum\u2019s side, Jordyn\u2019s upbringing was heavily influenced by Samoan culture, while her connection to her M\u0101ori heritage on her dad\u2019s side (Tainui a Whiro and Ng\u0101ti Koata ki Whaingaroa) remained dormant.<\/p>

When the couple started their own wh\u0101nau in 2017, they shared a desire to ensure their tamariki felt a strong connection to their M\u0101ori whakapapa. Their commitment to this accelerated in 2019 when they enrolled in Te W\u0101nanga Takiura in Auckland for a year of learning reo M\u0101ori via total immersion.<\/p>

Soon after this they enrolled at Te W\u0101nanga o Aotearoa and completed\u00a0Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi Level 6<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0at the\u00a0M\u0101ngere campus<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>

Jordyn’s brother and sister-in-law joined them on their reo M\u0101ori journey, allowing them to grow their learning environment and expand their reo speaking community.<\/p>

The transition to speaking M\u0101ori at home has been challenging. While their tamariki adapted quickly, making te reo M\u0101ori the primary language amongst adults has proven to be more difficult.<\/p>

\u201cKei te huri tonu te reo M\u0101ori hei reo m\u0101t\u0101mua i waenganui i a m\u0101tou, i ng\u0101 pakeke, to be honest, n\u0101 te mea ko te reo P\u0101keh\u0101 te reo t\u016btakitaki,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0she says.<\/p>

Jordyn admits that learning te reo hasn\u2019t been easy for her and her partner, but her tamariki and the desire to honour her dad, who never had the privilege of learning te reo M\u0101ori, were significant motivators.<\/p>

\u201cKua kite ahau i te koha nui a taku reo M\u0101ori ki taku wh\u0101nau, kua huri katoa taku ao i taku ako i taku reo M\u0101ori,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0she says.<\/p>

Both Jordyn and her brother have now secured kaiako roles at Te W\u0101nanga o Aotearoa, allowing them to further immerse themselves in te reo in an environment where their creativity can flourish.<\/p>

When asked about the similarities between teaching te reo M\u0101ori and composing music, Jordyn explains that when composing M\u0101ori songs, she sends her first draft to a reo M\u0101ori expert to ensure everything is correct before releasing it.<\/p>

\u201cThis process is like teaching. I have to know exactly what I\u2019m doing. I must be open to learning myself because to learn is to teach, and to teach is to learn. Essentially, being a student in both music and teaching is what makes them relatable,\u201d\u00a0<\/em>she says.<\/p>

For Jordyn and her wh\u0101nau, te reo M\u0101ori and culture has become normalised within their whare but she is hopeful that it will become a natural part of life for all those living in Aotearoa and beyond, especially when it comes to music.<\/p>

\u201cKia M\u0101ori ng\u0101 waiata maha, kia rangawh\u0101wh\u0101 ng\u0101 waiata M\u0101ori huri noa,\u201d\u00a0<\/em>she says.<\/p>

For those wanting to learn te reo M\u0101ori and make it a part of their daily life, Jordyn says,\u00a0\u201cdon\u2019t be mistaken, acquiring the language is a life-long journey. You have to think of it as intergenerational transformation. Do the mahi now so that your kids don\u2019t have to do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

T\u0101 te kaipuoro M\u0101ori whai i te reo me tana t\u016bpono ki t\u0113tahi t\u016branga kaiako<\/h1>

He kaiwaiata, he kaiako hoki a Jordyn Rapana, \u0101, e m\u014dhio wh\u0101nuitia ana ko Jordyn With A Why. He mea t\u012bmata e r\u0101ua ko tana t\u0101ne, ko Thomas Rapana (Ng\u0101puhi) t\u014d r\u0101ua haerenga reo n\u014d r\u0101ua e k\u014dp\u016b ana me te m\u0101t\u0101mua o \u0101 r\u0101ua tamariki. Ko t\u0101 r\u0101ua wh\u0101inga kia whakatupuria \u0101 r\u0101ua tamariki e rua i t\u0113tahi k\u0101inga k\u014drero M\u0101ori.<\/p>

Hei t\u0101 Jordyn,\u00a0\u201cI ahau e hap\u016b ana, i te whakaaro m\u0101ua ko taku t\u0101ne, you know what, kei te hiahia m\u0101ua kia tupu M\u0101ori mai ng\u0101 tamariki\u201d.<\/em><\/p>

N\u014dna e whakapakekengia ana i T\u0101maki Makaurau ki te Tonga, i te taha tonu o t\u014dna m\u0101m\u0101 e whakapapa nei ki H\u0101moa, i whakaawe nuitia t\u014dna ao e te ahurea o H\u0101moa, me te aha, ka roa te taha o t\u014dna p\u0101p\u0101, otir\u0101, t\u014dna taha M\u0101ori e moe rotu ana. N\u014d te wh\u0101nautanga mai o ng\u0101 tamariki, \u0101, n\u014d te tau 2017 ka tupu t\u0113tahi t\u014dmina i roto i a r\u0101ua kia t\u0101nekaha te hononga o \u0101 r\u0101ua tamariki ki \u014d r\u0101ua whakapapa M\u0101ori, haere ka roa, ka eke ng\u0101 r\u0101 o te 2019 k\u0101tahi tonu r\u0101 ka t\u014dr\u014dpuku i a r\u0101ua te t\u014dmina i rangona ai i t\u014dna rua tau i mua mai, ka kotahi tau rawa t\u0101 r\u0101ua rumaki i a r\u0101ua i Te W\u0101nanga Takiura o T\u0101maki Makaurau. N\u014d muri iho, ka whakawhiti atu r\u0101ua ki Te W\u0101nanga o Aotearoa, otir\u0101, ki\u00a0Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Taumata 6<\/a>,<\/strong> ka piki ai ki\u00a0Te P\u012bnakitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Taumata 7<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>

I whai w\u0101hi atu hoki te tung\u0101ne me te taokete o Jordyn ki t\u0113nei h\u012bkoi, n\u0101 kon\u0101 i tupu ai t\u0113tahi hapori ako i te reo, i tupu ai hoki t\u0113tahi hapori k\u014drero M\u0101ori. Kei kon\u0101 tonu ng\u0101 uauatanga o te whakam\u0101t\u0101mua i te reo M\u0101ori i te k\u0101inga. I tau noa te reo ki ng\u0101 arero o ng\u0101 tamariki, engari an\u014d ng\u0101 pakeke. Hei t\u0101na,\u00a0\u201cKei te huri tonu te reo M\u0101ori hei reo m\u0101t\u0101mua i waenganui i a m\u0101tou, i ng\u0101 pakeke, to be honest, n\u0101 te mea ko te reo P\u0101keh\u0101 te reo t\u016btakitaki,\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>

Kei te tino m\u014dhio a Jordyn r\u0101ua ko t\u0101na hoa rangatira ki ng\u0101 piere nuku o te ako i te reo M\u0101ori. Ahakoa t\u0113r\u0101, mei kore ake \u0101 r\u0101ua tamariki i m\u0101rohirohi ai r\u0101ua i ng\u0101 w\u0101 o te papatoiake. I tua atu i t\u0113r\u0101, ko te hiahia o roto i a Jordyn kia whakanuia tana p\u0101p\u0101, k\u0101ore nei i whai w\u0101hi atu ki te reo, t\u0113tahi kaikukume i a ia kia i manawarahi i roto i ng\u0101 mahi.<\/p>

Hei t\u0101na,\u00a0\u201ckua kite ahau i te koha nui a taku reo M\u0101ori ki taku wh\u0101nau, kua huri katoa taku ao i taku ako i taku reo M\u0101ori\u201d.<\/em><\/p>

I riro \u0113tahi t\u016branga kaiako i a Jordyn r\u0101ua ko t\u014dna tung\u0101ne i Te W\u0101nanga o Aotearoa, me te aha, ka kitea e r\u0101ua t\u0113tahi w\u0101hi e rumaki tonu ai r\u0101ua i te ao M\u0101ori, e w\u0101tea ai hoki r\u0101ua ki te wh\u0101ngai i te ahuatanga o roto i a r\u0101ua.<\/p>

N\u014d te uinga o Jordyn m\u014d ng\u0101 h\u0101ngaitanga o te whakaako i te reo M\u0101ori me te tito waiata, ka tautuhi ia i ng\u0101 \u0101huatanga o te tuku i ana titonga ki te m\u0101tanga reo hei h\u014dmiromiro m\u0101na, t\u014dmua mai i tana tuku i te waiata ki te ao.<\/p>

Hei t\u0101na,\u00a0\u201cko t\u0113nei tukanga, he rite ki te whakaako. Me m\u0101rama pai ahau ki t\u0101ku e mahi ana. Me tuwhera taku ng\u0101kau ki te ako, n\u0101 te mea he rua kotahi te ako me te whakaako. I te mutunga iho, ko te noho hei \u0101konga i te ao puoro me te ao whakaako te h\u0101ngaitanga nui katoa o ng\u0101 ao e rua\u201d.<\/em><\/p>

Kua tangata whenua te reo M\u0101ori me te ahurea M\u0101ori i roto tonu i te k\u0101inga o Jordyn r\u0101tou ko tana wh\u0101nau. Ko te t\u016bmanako nui ia o t\u014dna ng\u0101kau kia p\u0113r\u0101 rawa te tangata whenua i te umanga puoro, i Aotearoa, i te ao wh\u0101nui an\u014d hoki.<\/p>

Hei t\u0101na,\u00a0\u201ckia M\u0101ori ng\u0101 waiata maha, kia rangawh\u0101wh\u0101 ng\u0101 waiata M\u0101ori huri noa\u201d.<\/em><\/p>

Ko te kupu a Jordyn ki te hunga e p\u012brangi nei ki te ako i te reo, e p\u012brangi nei hoki kia tangata whenua te reo i \u014d r\u0101tou ao e p\u0113nei ana,\u00a0\u201ckia mahara ake koutou, he haerenga mutunga kore t\u0113nei. Ko te whakapapa me te tukunga o \u0113nei taonga me noho hei t\u0101h\u016b i ng\u0101 w\u0101 katoa. Me pao te torea kei whati ana te tai, e kore ai \u0101 koutou tamariki e mate ki te waha ake i ng\u0101 mahi \u0101 muri ake nei\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Musician and kaiako, Jordyn Rapana, also known as Jordyn with a Why, began her reo M\u0101ori journey to raise her tamariki in a M\u0101ori-speaking home.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":4312,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-challenge-stories","category-reo-maori"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4311"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4316,"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4311\/revisions\/4316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mahurumaori.com\/mao\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}