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After 36 years of teaching in the classroom, Mike Carswell is now spending a year in full immersion te ao Māori, with a little help from the HealthCare Plus Grants for Good program.
Michael Carswell has loved teaching for as long as he can remember. Thirty-six years into his teaching career, the passion hasn’t dimmed, but there’s been one ambition that’s been sitting with him for a long time.
“I’ve always wanted to learn how to speak te reo Māori, after being immersed in so many aspects of te ao Māori through my teaching.
This year, with the support of a HealthCarePlus Grant for Good, he’s finally doing it. Mike has taken a well-earned break from teaching to study full-immersion te reo at the University of Waikato in Tauranga. Mike says it’s far bigger than just learning the language.
“It’s holistic. I’m learning a way of life rather than just the language. This is full immersion into the culture of te ao Māori. Being around Māori every day is a privilege.”
Each part of the university program is built around a different kaupapa, for example kai, waka, whakapapa, and then used as a frame to learn the language. “We go to the marae, we share kai and cook kai and talk about the tikanga of kai. Then we apply that to the words and the sentence structures of the language. We put everything into practical use. It’s learning in real time.”
Mike’s motivation for this study stems from his mokopuna, who are Māori, and from his desire to kōrero in te reo when he finds himself in settings where it would be appropriate. “I want to be able to listen, understand and then reply in an authentic way, rather than just something I read off a piece of paper.”
Notably Mike isn’t Māori himself, which made finding the right grant a challenge. “I had to look outside the box to find places advocating for Māori across all cultures.” He came across Grants for Good when researching locally based funding that supported people like him. The criteria, he says, really resonated with his values, and the application process was very personalised. “On the occasions when I did need to email for clarification, I always had such a positive experience and felt really encouraged to continue.”
The funding has made a tangible difference to Mike and has eased the financial pressure, allowing him to focus on his studies while continuing to support his whānau. “It means I can put my energy into my learning. That’s awesome!”
His goal is to become a confident, lifelong speaker and to carry the language back into his school community. Mike already runs a whakairo (carving) group for adults at his kura, where members kōrero in te reo to help normalise its everyday use. “My reo will hopefully encourage others to speak the language, too,” he says. “And sharing my reo with others at my kura will open doors for our tamariki to pursue this taonga in their lives.”
Mike’s advice to anyone hesitating over an application is to definitely apply.
“If there’s something you’re passionate about – do it. And also do your homework, be clear about what you want to do and how it will benefit others, and don’t be backwards about asking questions.”
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