In this episode of Whakamāori, the team translate a powerful spoken-word piece by Ngā Hinepūkōrero—a raw, poetic reflection on the history of te reo Māori and the silence forced upon generations of our people.
From the schoolyard punishments to the intergenerational echoes of shame and resilience, the piece weaves memory, pain, and pride into every line.
The panel—Chey Milne, Tākuta Anah Hiini, Piripi Gordon, & Atakura Hunia—work carefully through the language, metaphors, and emotion—not just translating words but honouring the history and the truth behind them.
It's a moving reminder of how silence was once survival, and how speaking today is an act of resistance.