Ngāti Kahungunu Supports New Māori Language Strategy

Media Release – 23 July 2014

Ngāti Kahungunu Supports New Māori Language Strategy

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated supports the Minister of Māori Affairs’ new Māori Language Strategy which includes the establishment of a new independent statutory Māori language entity, Te Mātāwai. Te Mātāwai will allow iwi to lead the revitalisation of te reo and ensure government maintains its Treaty obligations.

The devolving responsibility for te reo to iwi is a major step to re-energising and exercising those language rights back to whānau and hapū. In the past we have relied on government to determine how language revival was driven but the delegation back to those communities’ gives impetus and ownership of the reo to its rightful place.

Earlier this year Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated launched its newly revised Māori language strategy ‘Kahungunu, kia eke!’ Ngāti Kahungunu Māori Language Strategy 2013-2027. The Ngāti Kahungunu language strategy highlights the alarming diminishing pool of native speakers and the increased need for in-depth research of unique Ngāti Kahungunu dialectal variations, which some warn is on the brink of extinction.

“Ngāti Kahungunu looks forward to the Crown engaging with us to work towards the preservation of our unique tribal dialect variations,” says Director of Te Reo & Tikanga Tātere MacLeod.

“Te Mātāwai is an exciting prospect for Ngāti Kahungunu and we look forward to greater contribution to its continued evolution and enhancement through active participation at community, regional and national levels”

“Our hope is for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori to become an every week event, for whānau, hapū, iwi and for all New Zealanders”.

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