How Learning Te Reo Māori Transformed a Pākehā Grandmother’s Life

Gael Finlayson-Davis, a 70-year-old grandmother from Auckland, became an unexpected symbol during the national hautapu ceremony at Takaparawhau, speaking through tears about her journey to learn te reo Māori to secure a better future for Aotearoa, according to Radio New Zealand (RNZ).

Overcoming Rural Beginnings and Career Demands

Raised on a 1950s and 1960s farm near Dargaville surrounded by whānau, Finlayson-Davis recalled a childhood school visit to a marae when she was about 12 years old that left her deeply drawn to Māori culture, as reported by RNZ. Later in life, her career working alongside young Māori offenders as a probation officer and clinical psychologist exposed her to profound societal inequities. According to RNZ, witnessing clients cycle through children’s homes and borstal intensified her desire to understand te ao Māori. She enrolled in her first language class in her 30s, but family and career obligations paused her studies until she retired and resumed learning through Selwyn Community Education.

Acknowledging Different Paths in Language Reclamation

Finlayson-Davis emphasized to RNZ that the journey of a Pākehā learning te reo differs fundamentally from that of Māori reclaiming their ancestral language. While she approaches the language with curiosity and an appreciation for whakataukī, waiata, and connections to the whenua, awa, and moana, she feels deeply humbled by the emotional anguish and effort required by Māori reclaiming what was lost. Furthermore, she noted that confronting Aotearoa’s history has been challenging, telling RNZ that the process is confronting in a way that truly needs to be experienced.

Pushing Back Against Political Pushback

Recent political friction surrounding Māori representation has troubled Finlayson-Davis. According to RNZ, she finds attempts to dismantle the reo and remove Māori representation on local councils disheartening, arguing that a true partnership makes the nation stronger. She rejected the zero-sum mindset that Māori success diminishes Pākehā prosperity, pointing instead to the open doors and manaakitanga of marae during times of crisis as a model for collaborative community strength across Aotearoa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Gael Finlayson-Davis?

Gael Finlayson-Davis is a 70-year-old Aucklander, grandmother of six, great-grandmother of two, former probation officer, and clinical psychologist who gained prominence after speaking at the national Matariki hautapu ceremony at Takaparawhau.

Where did she resume learning te reo Māori?

According to RNZ, she returned to language learning after retirement through Selwyn Community Education and currently attends a weekly waiata Māori kaupapa.

What did she say about Pākehā learning te reo?

She told RNZ that learning te reo and understanding te ao Māori is an act of respect and an opportunity to build a stronger partnership, emphasizing that if she can start learning in her 70s, anyone can take that step.