Youth MPs told it’s up to them to save Te Reo.

Jamie Tahana
In Wellington

Laying out a stark challenge, a senior manager for Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Maori told youth MPs that the future of the language was in their hands and that it was “their choice whether the language lives or dies.”

In a submission to the Youth Parliament Maori Affairs Select committee Te Haumihiata Mason said the language needed to be supported by rangatahi (youth) for it to transition into the next generation.

Ms Mason said that in the post treaty-settlement environment Maori currently find themselves in, it was important to focus on the culture instead of just the money that’s being handed over to iwi by the government.

“What is the main thing in this world? It seems to be money, while money is important, it does not support everything.” Ms Mason said of her own iwi, Ngai Tuhoe.

The tribe recently signed a $170 million settlement with the crown, which included management rights to Te Urewera National Park.

Te Haumihiata Mason said: “Before the settlement Tuhoe was poor, but it clung to their culture and cared about [the people] through their whanau’s, hapu and iwi.”

When asked by Youth MPs about making learning Maori compulsory in New Zealand schools to help preserve the language she said that she personally didn’t think it would work.

“To those who desire the language. That is the sector that focus should be placed upon. You cannot teach the language to someone who does not want the language.”

Te Haumihiata Mason said the government is expending a lot of resources to help Te Reo through various crown initiatives, like her own, but preservation is something that iwi should do themselves.

She left with a challenge for the Youth MPs to stand at the forefront of saving their native language.

ENDS

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