833

 Why would I (or any other New Zealander not obviously of non-Māori descent) wish to learn te reo Māori? I think that's an important question.

Ideally, one would want to be internally motivated. The exercise should have inherent importance. It ought to be perceived as worthwhile on its own merits.

For me, learning Māori is important in the following ways:

• As an intellectual exercise as to how best to learn a new language (that could then be applied to any language)
• As a door-opening exercise into Māori culture
• As a communication-increasing exercise
• As a way of promoting those principles that might substitute for or complement the principles upon which mainstream western culture is built