The Warehouse staffer charms Auckland customers with her use of te reo

Friday, 12 January 2018

Ata Marsh works at The Warehouse in Newmarket, Auckland, and has become renowned for her use of te reo Māori with customers.

If you've been to The Warehouse in Auckland's Newmarket it is likely you've come across Ata Marsh.

The bubbly checkout operator has charmed thousands of customers and colleagues alike with her use of te reo Māori.

She doesn't speak te reo to stand out but for a 'sense of belonging'.

Ata Marsh set herself a number of goals five years ago: The first was getting a job, the second was learning te reo. She now combines the best of both as a checkout operator at The Warehouse in Auckland.

Five years ago the mother of four set herself a list of goals: the first of which was getting off the benefit and finding work, she said.

* Editorial: More Maori language lessons welcome

* Recognition for those promoting Maori language in business**

After getting a job at The Warehouse - where she's now worked for four and a half years - she moved onto her next goal: Learning te reo.

The Onehunga woman started a 'fully-immersive' year-long te reo course, which she admitted was hard work for a beginner.

'I struggled a lot, but I was so passionate about te reo I wasn't going to let that stop me.'

While she already knew some of the basics, the course helped Marsh strengthen her vocabulary and hone her pronunciation.

She had to practice her skills on somebody, so began chatting to customers at The Warehouse in te reo.

At the very least, customers are welcomed to the store with a 'kia ora, kei te pēhea koe?' and farewelled with 'ka kite' or 'ka kite anō'.

Marsh said customers are often 'so happy' to hear Māori being spoken - and some join in.

'Some haven't heard te reo in a long time and reminisce with me, tell me how it takes them back.'

Marsh's 'journey' with te reo will be an enduring one as there is more to learn, she said.

'[Learning te reo] was personal for me, to help me on my journey, but if it helps customers who come into the store I'm happy to share.'

The Warehouse chief executive Pejman Okhovat said they had been 'inundated' with positive feedback about Marsh since she started.

'Customers have reached out and shared their wonderful experiences with Ata - her great attitude and what a positive role model she is for the community,' he said.

Okhovat said celebrating New Zealand and Māori heritage was really important, and they were 'extremely proud' to have Marsh as part of the team.