Peter McDermott graduated on Saturday last from his year-long immersion course in Maori language and was awarded the Level 4 Certificate – Rumaki Reo – from Te Wananga Takiura O Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori O Aotearoa.
The Certificate was presented in a moving ceremony on the Manurewa Marae. A five minute speech in Maori by each recipient was expected, however Peter, despite a sudden deluge of rain was further asked by the class to speak to thank the lecturers.
Among the 300 or so people at the event were a group of Peter’s friends from the North, plus Luke Paget and Merv Duffy from the Marist Community in Mt Eden.