Rotorua’s Rumaki Cafe: Strong support for te reo Māori immersion cafe after backlash
Rotorua’s new te reo Māori immersion cafe has enjoyed strong support despite the national attention and backlash it attracted before opening.
Rumaki has been open for a week, and “people are excited”, says executive director Miraka Davies (Ngāti Rehua, Ngātiwai ki Aotea, Ngāti Porou).
Davies said she had seen customers ranging from te reo learners to visitors from Japan, Spain and South Africa.
Local Māori walked through the doors and could simply “be themselves” in a space where their language, humour and tikanga were understood, she said.
It was believed to be Aotearoa’s first full immersion te reo Māori cafe.
The idea for the cafe came from Davies’ own struggle to use the language outside of classes and organised events.
The positive response over the past week had been a strong contrast to the online criticism and threats Davies received before opening.
Some people “freaked out” and there were “misunderstandings” around the cafe’s kaupapa, or purpose, she said.
The cafe was called “racist” by some who believed English speakers would be kicked out.
Some people turned up at the cafe and even to Davies’ home, prompting police involvement.
“It got serious,” she said.
“They were putting our photos all over the internet ... our home area.”
Davies said their perceptions were untrue.
“We’re not refusing anyone’s service ... and if we were, it wouldn’t be based on race.”
Davies said Rumaki was created to make te reo Māori part of everyday life and give people a place to experience the language in a natural, relaxed setting.
She encouraged everyone to come along, whether they were fluent speakers, learners or simply curious.
“We’ve got games ... you’re welcome to sit quietly ... read a book ... or one of us will sit with you and teach you ...”
Staff meet customers in an English-speaking lobby, where they explain how the cafe works and what support people might need before entering the immersion space.
QR codes help customers translate phrases and hear pronunciations.
Davies said the goal was not perfection, but participation, curiosity and respect for the environment.
She understood the cafe might not be for everyone and would not be “offended” if people decided it was not for them.
Rumaki is open seven days a week from 7am to 9pm, operating as a cafe by day and restaurant by night, with pizzas and charcuterie boards on the evening menu.
Davies said the extended hours were intentional, making it easier for people to engage with te reo Māori around work and daily life.
The cafe is owned and operated by the Rūmaki Trust, a charitable trust focused on supporting te reo Māori.
Davies said some people mistakenly believed that meant Rumaki was Government or taxpayer-funded.
She said the cafe was established with the help of grants, donations and a bank loan, and was designed to become self-sustaining through its day-to-day operations.
Any money left after covering operating costs was reinvested into the trust’s purpose.
The cafe’s first week had already shown Davies it was achieving what it set out to do.
It had also become a place where she could continue her own te reo Māori journey.
“It’s that dream of having a place where I can just speak te reo all the time and hear te reo all the time, and I can get better at it all the time.
“That’s achieved. That’s what’s happening.”
While encouraged by the response so far, Davies said she hoped to see even more people through the doors.
“We’re really grateful for everyone’s support,” she said.
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.