Jeremy was born and bred in Brisbane, Australia and moved back to New Zealand when he was just 17 to learn te reo and to immerse himself in te ao Maori. His was a journey of discovery, learning and challenges. Now at the tender age of 34, he is a family man, director of te reo, tikanga (customs) and mātauranga (knowledge) for Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. He is a government-certified translator, represents the east coast tribes of Te Tairāwhiti in the government’s Māori language revitalisation strategy and directs cultural-renewal initiatives for Ngāti Kahungunu, the iwi on his mother’s side—along with running a kōhanga reo with his wife.

In this conversation with Jeremy, Joe explores what drove Jeremy to learn more about his tipuna, his heritage and his passion for learning te reo and the challenges along the way. This is a compelling story of drive and that innate desire to connect!

Come join us - #LeshGo!