Reclaiming Māoritanga Through Gaming, Reo & Fatherhood - Te Awhiroa Kuka Sweet

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Te Awhiroa Kuka Sweet - a complex character with a rich backstory who describes himself perfectly. Te Awhiroa is a pāpā, former DJ and bouncer, Shakespeare enthusiast, competitive gamer, mental health advocate, and someone deeply passionate about weaving te reo Māori and tikanga into everything he does.

From growing up in New Brighton and finding his calling in performing arts to traveling to the Globe Theatre in London, Te Awhiroa's journey took him through drama school, back to Ōtautahi, and into the world of fatherhood - which he describes as his biggest passion. When his tama was born, his entire worldview shifted from living for himself to asking the deeper questions: What kind of values do I want to instill? How do I want to be a parent? How do I reclaim my te reo Māori for the next generation?

We dive deep into his journey of reconnecting with tikanga Māori through study at Te Puna Wānaka, working in technology to engage tamariki with pūrākau through gaming platforms like Fortnite, and his current mahi in mental health. Te Awhiroa shares powerful insights about using pūrākau about Māui as frameworks for understanding curiosity, boundaries, and how our tūpuna dealt with complex concepts like PTSD.

But this kōrero isn't just about culture and technology - it's about being a father in today's world, learning to be humble but not too humble, working on yourself when life finally slows down, and finding the balance between kindness and assertiveness that many of us struggle with.

Ngā kaupapa:

From Shakespeare to the Globe Theatre: How performing arts shaped his worldview
The moment fatherhood changed everything and made him reclaim his Māori identity
Using gaming and technology to teach pūrākau and engage tamariki with tikanga
Why Māui is actually a scientist - and what that teaches us about curiosity and boundaries
How tīpuna dealt with PTSD and warrior transitions through ceremony and community
The challenge of being humble but not too humble in today's world
Teaching tamariki to approach conflicts with aroha while still standing up for themselves
Working on yourself when the frantic pace of life finally settles down
The balance between being kind and being assertive as Māori navigating different worlds

Te Awhiroa's story is one of curiosity, growth, and the constant journey of becoming the father and man he wants to be - grounded in tikanga Māori but confident enough to fill up whatever space he enters.

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