To wrap up Māori Language Week, we look at the personal experience of a pākehā man Glen Cowan and his challenge to marry his Māori bride. But in the end, he got more than he set out for.
Glen Cowan says, “I'm a pākehā, and it always puzzled me when the tutors would tell me not to think pākehā, because I am pākehā! But now I understand what they mean, don't translate literally English to Māori.
An understanding that has grown over 6 years, when Glen Cowan took on the challenge to win his wife Robynleigh Cowan firstly by gaining the blessing of her grandfather.
Robynleigh Cowan says, “When I introduced him to my grandparents, my grandfather said Ngawai, there's a lot of fish in the sea. Do you think you've cast the net wide enough yet? My grandmother told him off, mean while my partner was sitting right there oblivious to it all. He said, how do you know he is the one? I told him because he has vowed to learn our language and culture.”
Glen says, “I was scared at first because here's this pākehā learning a language that belonged to Māori, I suppose I didn't want to disrespect anyone.”
But for Robynleigh there was no room for negotiation.
Robynleigh says, "I'll be honest, there was no initial attraction. Why do i say that? I suppose I was waiting for a Maori man to sweep me off my feet.”
But that didn't deter Glen, in fact it made him more determined. In 2011 he began his language journey through total immersion. As time went by he wanted to learn more, so continued under Te Ataarangi and later graduated Poutahi at Hoani Waititi Marae.
Glen says, “I don't think i would have ever thought of learning te reo Maori had i not met her, not because i didn't like it, but because i had no reason to.”
Glen won his wife over tenfold and impressed her grandfather. His journey has taught him to appreciate the language and culture in a new light. Currently he is studying at Te Aupikitanga.
Robynleigh says, “He has inspired my family for blazing his own trail. When my grandfather passed away he spoke at his funeral, and my family were amazed, partly because some of them can't speak Te Reo.”
In between his own teachings, Glen teaches at Papatoetoe Central School familiarising his students to kupu Māori.
Glen says, “I initially started to learn just to be able to converse at home, but now i see so many other benefits of teaching the language. I like to teach my students to certain phrases and words.”
So, Glen won his wife and more.
He says love will conquer all.
