A new weekly gathering in Tauranga is brewing more than just coffee – it’s creating space for people to speak te reo Māori.
John Hodgson, a longtime Tauranga resident with a passion for the Māori language, is inviting anyone interested to join him for Coffee Korero at Grinds Cafe on First Ave every Tuesday at 10am.
The aim is to provide a relaxed, welcoming environment where people can practise speaking Māori over a cup of coffee.
“I just can’t underestimate the value of practising speaking Māori,” Hodgson said. “It’s all very well to go to a course or evening classes to learn the basics, but if you don’t use it afterwards, you lose it.”
Hodgson’s interest in te reo Māori stretches back decades. He first took evening classes in Hamilton in the 1960s and continued learning over the years.
A space
But, he said, living in a predominantly Pākehā household and community meant few opportunities to practise what he learned. “Going to courses is fine, but once they finish, what do you do? You need conversation,” he said. “I wanted to create a space where people of all levels can learn from each other. Even if someone is more fluent, they can help, and if they’re at the same level, we can learn together.”
Hodgson’s family history also inspired him to strengthen connections with te reo Māori.
While his background is largely Pākehā, his wife’s heritage traces to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, and their children and grandchildren are now taking a growing interest in learning their Māori whakapapa and marau mātauranga.
The idea for Coffee Korero also draws inspiration from Māori language activism.
Hodgson points to 2022, when activist and artist Tāme Iti created a provocative installation in Auckland titled I Will Not Speak Māori. Visitors were invited to interact with the artwork by removing the word “not” – turning a statement of prohibition into one of empowerment.
Hodgson said moments like those highlighted the importance of practising and reclaiming the language.
Regular fixture
“I thought, ‘if people can engage with their language in creative ways like Tāme Iti did, why can’t we have our own small conversation group here in Tauranga?’” he said.
Hodgson welcomes anyone keen to practise te reo Māori – whether beginners or more experienced speakers. Participants can share stories, ask questions, and learn in a friendly, informal setting while enjoying a coffee.
The weekly Coffee Korero sessions run every Tuesday 10am in the first conference room at Grinds Cafe on First Ave, Tauranga City. Hodgson hoped it would become a regular fixture in Tauranga’s community life, giving locals a chance to embrace te reo Māori in everyday conversation.