Melanie Nelson and Alex Hotere-Barnes have had different pathways in learning te reo Māori, for Melanie it began in high school at Motueka and for Alex it began when his father enrolled him and his twin brother into Kohanga Reo. As adults both have remained committed to their own personal development of language fluency and any kaupapa associated with te reo Māori. Melanie and Alex have met some challenges and discouragement along the way, they share their story with Jerome Cvitanovich.