When Brendon Thompson discovered his biological father was Māori through a DNA test it “tipped my whole world upside down”.

Being strapped at school for speaking Te Reo Māori still haunts 77-year-old Hautonga Maggie Currie who felt “whakamā” and has spent her later years reclaiming her language.

Emma Rollerston started a waiata group to “fill the void” of being bought up far from her rohe. Meanwhile, Raewyn Chapman felt like a “fraud” for not being Māori enough.

These were just some of the stories that emerged recently from Wānanga-a-Iwi – a three- day marae-based programme designed by Ngaī Te Rangi to reconnect uri to the iwi.

It was an emotional kaupapa for the 70 whānau who attended from as far afield as Australia and during a barriers workshop some spoke of their hurt and not knowing who they were and where they came from.

Ngāi Te Rangi deputy chief executive Roimata Ah Sam said many tears were shed and even though it was confronting for many uri they learnt “you are not alone”.

“It takes courage to show up and Wānanga-a-Iwi gave uri a real sense of belonging.”

Ngāi Te Rangi mātauranga reo manager Jade Phillips said the programme, held on Tamapahore Marae shared knowledge, customs and culture through pōhiri, waiata, whakapapa, karakia, kai and history.

“It provides opportunities to strengthen connections and build self-confidence.”

According to iwi data platform Te Whata, Ngāi Te Rangi affiliation numbers have jumped more than 70% in 10 years, increasing from 12,924 people in 2013 to 23,997 in 2023.

‘World tipped upside down’

Adopted as a child Brendon Thompson always thought he was Pākeha. He said his “world tipped upside down” when at age 48 a DNA test revealed he was Māori.

“It changed everything I thought I knew about myself.”

He began unravelling the mystery of his biological family and discovered links to Ngāi Te Rangi through his father’s whakapapa.

“I’ve inherited three sisters on my father’s side. I’ve found out my hapu is Ngāiti Tapu and my marae is Waikari. For the first time I can do my pepeha which is just crazy. I’ve got five kids so now is the time for me to step forward.”

Raised in Dunedin Brendon travelled from Wellington for Wānanga-a-Iwi and said, “it’s amazing”.

“Everyone is really welcoming and it’s non-intimidating.”

He also lent a hand at the hāngī pit and said next time he plans to bring all his whānau.

“I used to feel I had missed out and that is life. But I haven’t really missed out after all.”

Te karanga o te kāinga

When Hautonga Maggie Currie returned to Tauranga in 2021 after years spent in Perth she was determined to learn, her native tongue after being forbidden to speak it at school despite her mātua being fluent.

“I picked up some of it, but it was taken out of you, and you felt ashamed to be Māori. I wanted to come back and be Māori I suppose. I felt like I needed to come home to whānau.”

Hautonga Maggie Currie and her daughter Kate. Photo / Supplied.

Although she had tried to learn Te Reo Māori in Australia her progress accelerated after studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Tauranga.

Hautonga’s daughter Kate joined her at Wānanga-a-Iwi which was held on their marae.

“It’s been great getting back to who we are,” Currie said. “I love it.”

Kate who lived in Washington DC for 10 years and came back in 2018 said it “has been really great hearing people’s stories”.

She said it was lovely to see the marae being utilised more.

“It’s brought a different energy, vibe and wairua which is awesome.”

Tight-knit community outside rohe

Emma Rollerston was bought up in Christchurch by her grandfathers’ brother. Her marae is Otāwhiwhi at Waihī Beach.

“So, I’ve spent my life using my Ngāi Te Rangitanga as a way to fill a void of being whāngai. We’ve set up a really tight knit community in the South Island and there are a few of us… we hang out and learn waiata and whakapapa and things like that," Rolleston said.

“I wanted my kids to know that Ngāi Te Rangi goes beyond our little tight knit whānau and Waihī Beach as we don’t come back to Tauranga very often.”

Emma Rollerston. Photo / Supplied.

She said that motivated her to bring them along to Wānanga-a-Iwi.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to show up and build connections and network with others who I can reach out to.”

‘I’ve always considered myself Pākeha’

Raewyn Chapman felt “nervous and scared” when she signed up for Wānanga-a-Iwi.

“I knew it was going to be an intense and overwhelming experience.”

Raewyn Chapman.  Photo / Supplied.

Last year her sister Sam went to Wānanga-a-Iwi after researching their Māori ancestry and she attended again to show her support.

“I’ve always considered myself Pākeha and I said, ‘Raewyn you can’t go you are a fraud’. But everyone was extremely welcoming and hearing the messaging that it doesn’t matter how much Māori percentage of blood you have which was heartwarming to hear.”

She faced her fears by showing up and which had also helped her Te Reo Māori journey.

“For me the timing was serendipity. The women who ran the weekend were phenomenal and they were mana wahine for sure.”

The last Wānanga-a-Iwi was held in summer at Whareroa Marae with more than 100 registrations. Due to demand, Ngāi Te Rangi tries to hold Wānanga-a-Iwi twice a year.

- Supplied by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Te Rangi Iwi Trust