No place for doom and gloom in Maori language re-build

MEDIA STATEMENT
Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga – Iwi Advocate for Education
7 June 2013

No place for doom and gloom in Maori language re-build

The government and Maori must “keep the faith” and avoid getting “doom and gloom” over the odds facing a goal to double the number of Maori speakers by 2028, says Awanui Black of Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga.

“Our people are survivors, especially in the face of adversity and I can tell you there’s such a strong passion among iwi, hapu and marae throughout the country to ensure te reo Maori not only lives but that it thrives,” said Mr Black in response to innuendos that Te Puni Kokiri was being unrealistic in its hopes to see the number of Maori speakers double over the next 15 years.

“Our group agrees there are challenges and that government departments need to work more closely with Māori communities, but we can get there.”

Mr Black said the increasing numbers of Maori people heading overseas to live would be a challenge but that many iwi were adopting innovative ways to ensure their tribal members were still learning the language beyond the New Zealand border.

“Our people will go where the jobs are, they always have so we need to look at ways to get language learning to them, which some iwi are doing right now by making programmes available to their people online and via multi-media.”

Nga Kaikokiri Matauranga has developed a number of strategies aimed at increasing Maori speaker numbers, which they are working with the Ministry of Education on. Just some of strategies included:

•          Making kohanga and kura accessible to more Maori children.
•          Raising awareness among whanau of Maori children that kura have high rates of turning out students who achieve academic success both at secondary and university levels.
•          Supporting iwi, hapu, marae groups to run innovative te reo programmes including the learning of te reo in homes.

ENDS

© Scoop Media