Maori Party Asks Why Did it take Twenty Years for Education Ministers to Recognise the Official Status of Te Reo Maori?
Te Ururoa Flavell, Education Spokesperson, Maori Party
Tuesday 6 November 2007

Education Spokesperson for the Maori Party, Te Ururoa Flavell, today expressed amazement that the Government could issue a release confirming that te reo Maori has been added as an official language of New Zealand without at the same time issuing an apology for taking two decades to implement the law.

“In 1987, the Māori language was declared to be an official language of New Zealand by means of the Maori Language Act 1987” said Flavell, “so why has it takentwenty years for government to respect the rule of law by implementing this vital piece of legislation?"

"I think New Zealanders deserve some kind of explanation for such disrespect of te reo Maori and such disregard of the law."

The Education Minister's release of 6 November 2007 states “te reo Maori and New Zealand Sign language are added as official languages”.

Today's release by Minister of Maori Affairs and Associate Minister of Education, Parekura Horomia, also states that "For the first time the curriculum also respects the status of te reo Mâori as an official language".

Treaty of Waitangi Also Added Back in

Mr Flavell was, however, pleased that the developments of the 1993 New Zealand Curriculum Framework has remained a key part of the education curriculum, despite contrary moves by the former Minister of Education, Hon Steve Maharey.

“In 1993, Te Tiriti o Waitangi was recognised as one of the essential nine principles of the New Zealand Curriculum Framework” said Mr Flavell.

“In particular recognition was given to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, to te reo and nga tikanga Maori. The 1993 Social Sciences curriculum confirmed that ‘an understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi’ , while the Language and Languages section of that same Framework acknowledged te reo Maori as a taonga under the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi”.

“So today, we are pleased to see these core elements retained in the revised version of the 1993 precedent” said Mr Flavell.

“We know it has been a topsy-turvy ride to ensure previous commitments remained – following the decision made by the former Education Minister in August 2006 to take the Treaty out of the curriculum” said Mr Flavell.

“Today is a tribute to the leadership provided by the Ministry of Education in listening to the hundreds of organisations and individuals who lobbied so passionately to retain Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a foundation to effective education in Aotearoa”.

ENDS

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