There's a Te Reo revolution underway with classes packed with people eager to reclaim their ancestral language.
For those seeking fluency, it's a journey requiring sacrifice, time and dedication.
Ngāti Raukawa kaumatua Pauly Hillman, 61, is a humble rangatira who embodies this revolution.
Recently graduating with a Bachelor of te reo Māori, the past three years of his life have been filled with hard work and little sleep.
Like so many in his generation, Hillman didn't learn te reo Māori growing up in Feilding.
His family were raised speaking English, and after spending decades living and working in Australia, he found he was moving further away from his Māori culture.
"We grew up, in my view, as a normal family living in the Pākehā world, loving being in the Pākehā world," he said.
When he returned home in his late 50s, Pauly's son, Jayden, had a surprising request.
He wanted his Dad to learn te reo Māori to help reconnect the younger generations to their language and culture.
Pauly admitted he was shocked.
"I was quite taken aback by that," he said.
But learning the language wasn't the only challenge.
Pauly spent three years studying at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki from 7am to 2pm and then working at the local freezing works on the night shift.
"It's my bread and butter," he admitted.
The hard physical job left him with only a few hours of sleep a night.
"Yeah, it's hard work, but you gotta do it," he said.
"I was tired a lot. Getting up, having a shower, 6.30am, heading off down to the wānanga at 7am."
And every weekend he spends at least five hours giving back to his people of Ngāti Manomano, doing the lawns and weeding at Te Taumata o te Rā marae.
Hillman said his journey is just beginning.
"Although I'm 61 years old, I'm still an infant within Te Reo and tikanga Māori."
And Hillman has a challenge for his grandchildren.
"If your grandad can do it, you can do it too. Feel the fear and do it anyway."
Te Wiki ō te reo Māori starts on Monday, September 11.
Made with support from Te Mangai Pāho and New Zealand On Air.
