"McRoberts’ story is inspirational and powerful. He offers hope that it is never too late to start the journey of learning. Tūwhitia te hopo!"
"As a contribution to contemporary New Zealand literature, Speaking My Language is significant. It offers a perspective shared by many Māori who grew up separated from their reo and are now working to reclaim it. It also serves as a bridge for non-Māori readers seeking to understand the emotional and cultural weight of language revitalisation. The book adds to the growing body of writing that situates identity, indigeneity and personal growth within the evolving landscape of Aotearoa."
Review by Chris Reed @ www.nzbooklovers.co.nz
Rowena (Bookseller) read "Speaking My language" and agees with both reviewers - highly recommends.
Well-known journalist and presenter Mike McRoberts opens up about his experiences of reconnection to te ao Māori and learning te reo, and encourages others to do the same.
'Mike has bravely given voice to the inner conflicts and deep-seated longing many of us feel as we seek the power of reclaiming our language. Where we may have seen him as polished and unflappable, this intimate, vulnerable journey shows another side and will leave you inspired.' - Stacey Morrison
'Ko te kai a te rangatira, he kōrero - discourse is the domain of chiefs; here Mike reveals the destiny that awaited him, because he sought the sustenance our language brings. He kōrero rangatira!' - Scotty Morrison
For much of his life, Mike McRoberts felt burdened by not knowing his own language - te reo Māori. Growing up at a time when te reo was scarcely spoken in daily conversations, and within a mixed-race family with little connection to Māoritanga, his experience mirrored that of many other New Zealanders of his generation.
In later years, as a journalist and presenter of Newshub's six o'clock news, his confident television persona masked the anxiety he felt greeting viewers with the simple phrase, 'Kia ora, good evening'. Not being comfortable speaking his language was a source of shame - a shame that ironically kept him from starting his te reo journey sooner.
In Speaking My Language / Te Kōrero i Tōku Reo Mike shares his story of that journey to speak te reo Māori and reclaim his identity. His book is an invitation for all New Zealanders to take the first step to understand why speaking our Māori language and treasuring our culture matters.
Mike McRoberts (Ngati Kahungunu ki te Wairoa) is one of New Zealand's most respected journalists and broadcasters, with an award-winning career spanning four decades. After anchoring Newshub's 6pm bulletin for 20 years and reporting from conflict zones and natural disasters worldwide, Mike embarked on a deeply personal journey into Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Māori - captured in his acclaimed documentary, Kia Ora, Good Evening. Mike is now Te Ao Māori Editor at the National Business Review (NBR).