Food Caravan Takes Lessons On the Road

After an overwhelming response, a fish and chip, an eatery in Christchurch, that offered free te reo (Maori language)a classes are taking it to the road. Anton Matthews, one of the owners said they got the idea last year.

"We realized people were really hungry for free te reo lessons and we sort of created a bit of a movement. I suppose, a bit of a taniwha, a bit of a beast and we are really excited about it." Matthews said they have booked out town halls and school halls in the hope that people will come along and learn a bit of te reo Maori and hopefully buy some kai (food) as well. They will begin the tour in Greymouth and head towards Westport. Then to Timaru and Ashburton. In May, the food caravan will head back to Nelson and Blenheim, and through the East Coast to Kaikoura.

Matthews said New Zealanders have now realized that te reo Maori is part of our cultural identity as kiwis. "I always give example of the haka. We all get very proud when the All Blacks do the haka, but if we want to own the haka and be proud of the haka, then we need to own te reo Maori as well. You can't just have the haka or ta moko and not take time to learn te reo Maori. The two go hand in hand. Culture and language. I think New Zealanders are starting to realize that." Matthews said a diverse group of people are keen to learn the language. "Every location I go to, there are young, old and sometimes babies and there are 90-year-olds as well. They are Maori, they are Pakeha and they are tourists."

He said the crowd are always a mix, like a fruit salad.