Heartwarming moment McDonald's worker speaks to a young Maori family in their own language
- A McDonald's worker was praised by young mother for speaking native language
- Mother Nakita Ferguson was with her son, niece and aunt at local McDonald's
- The employee noticed them speaking in native tongue and repliedin Maori
A mother has taken to social media to praise a young McDonald's worker after he spoke to her family in Maori.
Opotiki mother of one Nakita Ferguson took her son Cassius Church, five, her niece and her aunt to the Rotorua McDonald's last Sunday, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Miss Ferguson said the young employee noticed her talking to her aunt in te reo before taking their order in the same language.
A New Zealand mother has taken to social media to praise a young McDonald's worker after he took her family's order in their native language, te reo Maori
'This guy needs recognition!' she wrote to Facebook.
'Speaking Te Reo to our Maori tamariki, honestly! Hes amazing! Never thought I would hear this at McDonald's or any where, still blown away.'
She said the young employee told her whenever he hears te reo being spoken by a customer he always rushes to serve them.
'I honestly was shocked, only because that never ever happened before, not at one shop that I've been to,' Miss Ferguson told the New Zealand Herald.
'No one speaks te reo. Especially to the children and I felt that as if he was nurturing our little seeds to grow.'
Share this article
Miss Ferguson said when her son went back to get his dessert she decided to film the interaction, saying it deserved to be shared and praised.
'He was really shy to talk Māori to anyone. After (the employee) had done that my son's amazed and now he's speaking te reo wherever.'
Miss Ferguson said the moment really resonated with her because the language had almost died out in the past.
'Our language has almost disappeared before. Listening to my nan saying that they got in trouble at school if they spoke their first language (Maori),' she wrote.
'They even had to change their Maori names to pakeha names because the teachers couldn't pronounce it!
'Now it's awesome that it's coming back stronger & better than ever! & being more recognised.'
Miss Ferguson said when her son went back to get his dessert she decided to film the interaction, saying it deserved to be shared and praised
