Beating the taniwha of shame

Beating the taniwha of shame

“I speak the reo like a newborn,” writes Michelle Campbell about her first few weeks in immersion learning. (Photo: Te Wānanga o Raukawa) Michelle Campbell reflects on the crippling shame and moments of courage in her first few months of immersion reo learning.   It’s an ego-smashing experience being born again into Māoridom as a 42-year-old woman. I speak the reo like a newborn. I make shapes with my mouth and hope the correct sounds will come …