Miss-Delectable
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Deaf get voice on marae - Local News on Stuff.co.nz
Joshua Te Whata wants to give deaf Maori a voice on the marae.
He's aiming to become only New Zealand's second qualified trilingual interpreter - translating between Maori and English using sign language.
"I've always wanted to be a sign language interpreter because my mother is deaf," he says.
"It's always been part of my life.
"I thought it would be awesome to support deaf Maori and to interpret their words on the marae."
The 23-year-old is studying for a two-year diploma of sign language interpretation at AUT. There's only one snag - he's got to learn Te Reo Maori too.
His father, from Ngati Porou, is a fluent Maori speaker but never spoke the language at home.
Joshua says his father grew up in a time where speaking Maori was discouraged.
So he's busy juggling his interpretation studies with Te Reo classes.
"Although not being able to speak Maori has been a disadvantage, it's encouraged me even more to fulfil my goals," he says.
Joshua Te Whata wants to give deaf Maori a voice on the marae.
He's aiming to become only New Zealand's second qualified trilingual interpreter - translating between Maori and English using sign language.
"I've always wanted to be a sign language interpreter because my mother is deaf," he says.
"It's always been part of my life.
"I thought it would be awesome to support deaf Maori and to interpret their words on the marae."
The 23-year-old is studying for a two-year diploma of sign language interpretation at AUT. There's only one snag - he's got to learn Te Reo Maori too.
His father, from Ngati Porou, is a fluent Maori speaker but never spoke the language at home.
Joshua says his father grew up in a time where speaking Maori was discouraged.
So he's busy juggling his interpretation studies with Te Reo classes.
"Although not being able to speak Maori has been a disadvantage, it's encouraged me even more to fulfil my goals," he says.