Maori Language Needs Energy & Resources to Survive
Researchers have found that further energy and resources are needed to re-establish and maintain Maori language in the home.
“Preliminary analysis suggests that Maori language initiatives need to be better co-ordinated across both formal and non- formal sectors,” said Mason Durie, leader of the Massey University study which concentrates on the revitalisation and maintenance of the Maori language.
“Further energy and resources need to be focused more strongly on helping families to establish and maintain Maori language environments in their homes,” said Professor Durie.
As part of the Massey University study,
surveys and interviews were conducted with selected Maori
language households throughout New Zealand. Information
from these will help researchers to suggest options and
strategies for promoting Maori language use at the
household level. The research which is an
investment of the Public Good Science Fund, also included
an investigation of individual members of Maori language
households. It looked at the way the language proficiency
of an individual is acquired and the barriers and
difficulties experienced in maintaining Maori language
within the household. "The research programme was
established in 1995, and since then it has focused on
building Maori language teaching and learning resources, as
well as encouraging Maori language in the home," said
Professor Durie. "A sub-sample of five individuals who
display an exemplary use of the language have been involved
in furthering the study by looking at the way they use
Maori language. This will also form the basis for the
development and publication of new resource material."
The programme has also developed a user-friendly database
written in Maori that catalogues and comprehensively
describes published Maori language resource material.