Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2025 — Trisha Falleni’s Journey of Discovery

Walking Backwards Into the Future 
 
Tēnā koutou katoa, e te whānau. 
 
I am Trisha Falleni, and I am proud to stand as a Māori wahine toa, embracing my heritage and the language of my ancestors. My journey as a Māori, and my relationship with te reo Māori, has been one of discovery, courage, and quiet strength. 
 
I grew up in Stokes Valley, Wellington, with three brothers and a sister. From a young age, life taught me resilience. I lost a little brother to drowning at just 16 months old. I spent my childhood climbing in the bush, fishing, and exploring with my brothers and their friends — adventurous at heart, always active and curious. My schooling at Saint Michael’s Primary School and Taita College shaped me, but it was always clear — nursing was my path. 
 
I moved to Christchurch to train as a community nurse, choosing a place where I could learn without the pressure of caring for people I already knew. This path led me through community nursing into becoming a registered nurse, then onto my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Study, particularly research, opened a door to improving health outcomes for all — especially Māori. 
 
Yet, my journey of understanding my Māori identity began later in life. My father’s parents separated when he was young, and while his mother was Māori, he was raised by his Italian father and stepmother. A tutor encouraged me to seek out my whakapapa, and so began a long and profound journey of discovery. Meeting whānau in Nelson who looked and sounded like me was transformative — it anchored me in a sense of belonging I had not fully experienced before. 
 
Embracing te reo Māori has been a heartfelt journey. Fluent conversation does not come easily, but I listen with my heart and let it guide me. Working on marae, learning tikanga, values, and customs, I discovered a philosophy of care that shapes how I work and live. My past patients, who now sit metaphorically on my shoulders, continue to guide me in the way I care for people and whānau. 

Years ago, I chose to wear my moko kauae, a symbol of my quiet strength and commitment to my identity. It represents standing firmly as Māori, embracing the past while walking into the future. “Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua” – I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past, is a whakataukī I hold close 

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is a reminder for me, and for all of us, to embrace the language, to speak it, to live it. Every word spoken with courage, every greeting shared with warmth, is a step further into embracing our culture. For me, a simple Mōrena with a smile carries the weight of connection, respect, and belonging. 
 
Mā te reo, mā te whakapapa, mā te aroha – through language, ancestry, and love – we honour who we are, where we come from, and the path we walk ahead.