The Independent Panel of the Government’s Māori Language Strategy recommends that revitalisation of Māori be focused in the home, and that Iwi Māori lead the strategy, with Government support.

In its report to the Minister of Māori Affairs, the panel recommends a Minister for Māori Language be established to have overriding authority for Government’s expenditure on te reo and for monitoring its growth, quality and value to the Nation.

Panel chair, Emeritus Professor Sir Tamati Reedy, says there is real concern on the falling number of speakers of Māori from 25% to 23%, and an apparent lack of accountability on “value for money” in terms of language outcomes.

“Figures handed to the Panel showed current government spending ranging between $225m and $600m,” said Sir Tamati. “The bulk of the spend is on Māori language in education, television and radio. Expenditure by Ministries and agencies was largely uncoordinated, and the question of value for money could not be measured.

“However, less than 2% is spent assisting the development of language in the home and community. Overseas experts on language revitalisation strategies say that if a language is spoken only by grandparents or parents and is not passed on to their offspring, then the language is on the dangerous path to extinction.

Sir Tamati, who holds a doctorate in linguistics and represents Ngati Porou and Tairawhiti dialect was supported by a panel of Māori language experts – Rahera Shortland of Taitokerau, Pania Papa of Tainui, Cathy Dewes of Te Arawa, Te Kahautu Maxwell of Mātātua, Toni Waho of Tai hau-ā-uru, and Hana O’Regan of Te Taitonga-Ngaitahu,” he said.

The panel heard submissions from 15 hui around New Zealand and interviews were held with a number of Ministries and Crown Agencies.

“There was widespread call for dialectal retention as an important badge of identity. But learning te reo is the primary goal.

“The main message from the hui” said Tamati Reedy “was that Māori must take charge of the revitalisation process of te reo Māori, and the government’s role is to support revitalisation under its obligations according to the Treaty of Waitangi.”

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