Similar to Pākehā claiming to be kaitiakitanga without understanding the deeper whakapapa meaning of that word.
I've done it myself in the past in terms of my job and interests, but have since learnt that it's not for me, and that's OK.
Interesting seeing some Pākehā get really offended by this.
@etangata.bsky.social“I’m not arguing that Pākehā can’t learn te reo Māori. Anyone can learn te reo Māori, speak te reo Māori, and have a relationship with te reo Māori. But only Māori can claim te reo as ‘ours’.” — Taea Staples.
e-tangata.co.nz
It’s not “our” reo if you’re Pākehā | E-Tangata
“I’m not arguing that Pākehā can’t learn te reo Māori. Anyone can learn te reo Māori, speak te reo Māori, and have a relationship with te reo Māori. But only Māori can claim te reo as ‘ours’.” — Taea ...
![Carmen Kirkwood explains it thus: "Kaitiaki is
a big word. It encompasses atua, tapu, mana. It
involves whakapapa and tika; to know 'kaitiaki'
is to know the Maori world. Everybody on this
planet has a role to playas a guardian. But if you
use the word kaitiaki, that person must be Maori
because of the depth and meaning of the word,
and the responsibilities that go with it. The reason
is that to be a kaltiaki means looking after one's
own blood and bones - literally. One's
whanaunga and tupuna include the plants and
animals, rocks and trees. We are all descended
from Papatuanuku; she is our kaitiaki and we in
turn are hers." .
"The physical kaitiaki system is based on
whakapapa, lineage, and inherited nurtured
responsibility ... and direction of tribal elders.
[It is] traditional and inalienable. Kaitiaki cannot
be filled by a group from anywhere [because] the
status of kaitiaki stems from long tribal associations [tangata whenua, mana whenua, ahi ka].
Only tangata whenua can be kaitiaki, can identify
kaitiaki, can determine the form and structure of
kaitiaki" (Minhinnick 1989).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ow2edfe3o7kiib54mpgal2ym/bafkreibndqew4f2226f24hqr2alsccg66vbnp7bhewfqx45mkgjsb3pxeq)
