Te reo intrigues Irish scholar (+video)

Two journeys of discovery were part of a happy collision in Rotorua when a language student from Ireland joined up with a Matariki roadshow.

Aoife (pronounced "e-fa") Finn is studying for her PhD in Linguistics at Trinity College in Dublin and is already well known to television and radio audiences in New Zealand.

She is studying Maori syntax as part of her thesis project, is on her first trip to New Zealand, and is travelling the North Island with Te Iwa o Matariki, a roadshow to re-educate New Zealanders about the star cluster of Matariki.

Miss Finn's trip was sponsored by Te Wananga o Aotearoa and she is also taking part in next week's Maori Language Week celebrations.

She has been studying Maori for the past six years and is two years into her PhD studies that will add to her degrees in engineering, Italian and French, and a Masters degree in linguistics.

Irish PhD student Aoife Finn and Te Wananga o Aotearoa's Paraone Gloyne with the Matariki roadshow that was in Rotorua yesterday. Photo / Ben Fraser

"While doing a syntax, or grammar, assignment during my Master's thesis, I was in the library and picked up a reference guide about Maori and I'd never seen anything like it.

"I was really intrigued about the grammar of Maori. I had such a fun time writing my dissertation I wanted to keep working in Maori for my PhD."

Miss Finn, originally from Dundalk, told the Rotorua Daily Post she had learned a lot from her first week in Aotearoa.

"My notebook is filling up thick and fast with loads of notes.

"Having it said to you is so much better than reading it in a book. I'm still learning, but I've been studying its syntax for six years.

"But I really have to up my game there and learn to speak it properly."

As for her instant stardom, Miss Finn said it was quite unexpected, but she was taking it all in her stride.

She's been a guest on Radio New Zealand, TV3's Story and will be on TV One's Breakfast and Te Karere next week.

"It's been lovely, but it's all a bit surreal.

"I did not expect all the attention when I left Ireland."

Te Wananga o Aotearoa chief executive Dr Jim Mather said the organisation was thrilled to have Miss Finn accept their invite.

"It is incredible that she has maintained a passion for te reo Maori ... with little interaction with Maori and in a land so far from our own.

"We believe Aoife is an inspirational figure and I have no doubt that her visit will inspire our staff and students as well as guide her in her endeavours to learn te reo Maori."