Kay finds rewards in te reo Maori

Returning to the classroom after leaving school decades ago, Kay Tandy is now capable of understanding basic Maori.

The Rotorua real estate saleswoman of Ngati Manuhiri descent told the Daily Post she had always wanted to learn Maori.

"It's part of my heritage."

Six months ago she jumped on board one of Te Wananga o Aotearoa Te Ara Reo free night courses. She takes a three-hour class once a week.

Although it's only early stages, she finds it easy to now flick the television to the Maori channel and grasp much of the conversation.

"It's great. I can pick up most of conversation just by a few words. Maori is less busy ... less fussy.

"It's to the point. You don't have to use so many words to say something."

She finds she is now thinking in te reo too.

"I'm always translating English in my mind into Maori," she said.

"It's awesome. It just becomes second nature.

However, Mrs Tandy said she didn't think she would have been able to pick it up so easily without the support of her tutors and classmates.

"It's been awesome having so much support. If you get behind they offer extra personal tutorials," she said. "There is a lot of one-on-one lessons if you want or need any extra help.

"The students help each other and the kaiako [teachers] are just great. They give you heaps of resources to help you."

She's made a lot of friends from different countries too.

"You form some really good friendships with other students learning on the course.

"I've met people from South Africa, Spain and Canada who are learning te reo too," she said.

Rotorua free Te Ara Reo classes at the Whero Campus on Old Taupo Rd started last week but there are still places available for people wanting to learn Maori.

As well as the classes, students spend one weekend on a noho marae stay.