Jennifer Ward-Lealand shares her journey of learning te reo Māori in new podcast episode

Jennifer Ward-Lealand, an actor and intimacy coach, discussed her journey learning te reo Māori in a recent podcast episode. She began her formal education in the language in 2008 after feeling a strong connection to Māori culture during a film project in 2000. Ward-Lealand emphasized the beauty of te reo Māori, particularly its metaphors linked to nature. She acknowledged the challenges of learning the language, noting that Pākehā do not share the same historical trauma as Māori regarding language loss. In 2017, she received the te reo name Te Atamira, which means "The Stage," from respected Māori leaders. Ward-Lealand has since used her platform to promote te reo Māori and was named New Zealander of the Year in 2020 for her contributions to the arts and language advocacy.