I know I bang on about it a lot, but I will just never get over how lucky I am that people as cool and interesting as Rāniera want to talk to me. Rāniera Procter (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Porou) joined me for an incredibly insightful conversation about his whānau and the values they live. In particular his mission to raise his children with te reo Māori as their first language, a taonga he was also raised with.

Rāniera is a father who walks the walk, but he's very honest that it took him a while to get there. Becoming a dad at 22 was not in the plan, and Rāniera spoke to me about how that woke him up to becoming an adult, as well as ignited his passion for the revitalisation of Māori language and culture.

Rāniera has three children with his ex-wife and he and his wife Kawai are expecting their first pēpi together literally any day now. This is their second pregnancy, after they lost their first baby, Hinepūororangi, who was born still at 33 weeks last year. If stillbirth is a difficult topic for you, please look after yourself.

Rāniera is humble, funny, kind, passionate, gentle, reflective, and just a really great guy to chat to. I am so glad that people like him exist, and families like his exist. Particularly in regards to the incredible de-colonisation/reindigenisation work they are doing for their community.

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