Survey On The Health Of The Mäori Language

Survey on the Health of the Maori Language: May 2001

Around 7,000 Mäori aged 15 years and over are to be included in a national survey on the health of the Mäori language (te reo Mäori) which runs from 12 May to 24 June 2001. The survey is being conducted by Statistics New Zealand on behalf of Te Puni Kökiri (the Ministry of Mäori Development) to assess how well the Government's strategy to revitalise the Mäori language is working.

Everyone participating in the survey will complete a face-to-face interview in their own home. They will be asked how often they use Mäori language and where they use it. They will also be asked to assess how well they speak Mäori, understand spoken Mäori, and read and write Mäori. Other questions will cover Mäori language use in childhood, Mäori language courses, and Mäori language on radio and TV. The questions are not difficult, nor do they include any test of how well people speak Mäori.

Those participating will have the choice of an interview in Mäori or English. The interviews will take about 45 minutes.

The survey results will be published in April 2002. The results will assist iwi, government, and the community to continue to revitalise the Mäori language and to provide effective programmes for Mäori language development.

The sample for the survey was selected from those people who identified their ethnicity as Mäori in the 2001 Census. On the census forms, it was explained that Statistics New Zealand would be selecting people to take part in the survey.

Dianne Macaskill DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN

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