Great teachers leave an impression for life.
That's certainly the case for Seven Sharp reporter Tamati Rimene-Sproat, who decided to mark the end of an era for his old Māori language tutor, and one of Māoridom's most colourful and revered characters, Sir Timoti Karetu.
"Lets just put it this way: If you're not being picked on by Timoti, then he's not really paying a lot of attention to you, so it's actually a good sign when he is giving you a bit of stick," former student Ruth Smith said.
Sir Timoti, a professor and Māori language advocate, started Te Kura Reo o Waimārama alongside leaders of the time in 1989.
"Probably only about 30 people there," he said of the school's early beginnings.
The week-long full immersion programme was originally set up to provide Māori language teachers with resources to adequately teach the language in schools.
"The cream of the Māori language speaking world have been the teachers at this kura, and initially, if you didn't understand Māori at natural speed, we wouldn't let you in," he said. "That was how it was at the beginning, but since then we've opened the doors to Tom, Dick and Harry. And Tom, Dick and Harry have come in droves - and Mary as well, if you want to throw her into this."
To Sir Timoti's surprise, Tom, Dick, Harry and Mary kept coming back.
"That's why I think the language is more widespread than is ever was 30 years ago," he said. "There's a younger generation who are eloquent and it warms the cockles of the heart, I think, is the Pākehā expression."
But now, on the eve of Kura Reo's 30th birthday, Sir Timoti has decided to take a step back – but not necessarily retiring, he said.
"I don't know what the word means, I'm sorry - nor does the Māori world, for that matter.
"People will sort of ring you up and say, 'Will you come here?'. While I still have a breath in my body and while I am any use to anybody, I'll make myself available."
Sir Timoti said he's aiming to "be a bigger irritant" to his students in 2019.
"Just to be around and be an irritant, I think, Tamati - that's going to be my aim in ’19," he said. "To be a bigger irritant than I've been all these years.”
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