Strengthening the focus on whānau, hapū and iwi, and consolidating Māori leadership are the key principles underpinning the proposed new Māori Language Strategy which the Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples released just before Christmas for consultation with Māori language stakeholders.

“Te Reo Māori is the cornerstone of our Māori culture and identity. We must look to new approaches to continue our journey of language revitalisation in order for it to survive,” said Dr Sharples.

“This proposed Māori Language Strategy represents our thinking about how the Government can best respond to the recommendations put forward by Te Paepae Motuhake in their 2011 report ‘Te Reo Mauri Ora’.”

“The proposed new strategy focuses on supporting language learning in the home and in the family; it outlines new principles informed by reviews of the Māori Language Strategy 2003; and it updates governance arrangements for Te Taura Whiri, Te Māngai Pāho and the Māori Television Service to put iwi into the driver’s seat,” he said.

“If we are to respect the rangatiratanga of Māori/iwi over Te Reo Māori and truly understand that the home, the kāinga and transmission of dialects are integral to the growth of our language, then

Māori/iwi should govern our Māori language entities.”

The proposed strategy also builds upon the foundation established in Budget 2013 where $44.7 million was invested in Te Reo Māori.

Consultation will take place this month following which the Minister of Māori Affairs will seek final approval of the new Māori Language Strategy from Cabinet.

“Going forward, whānau, hapū and iwi, government agencies and the wider community must fully engage and take ownership of this project of national significance for the strategy to fully succeed”.

Key proposals include that:

• a Māori/Iwi Electoral College called Te Mātāwai be established;
• ‘ownership’ of Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori and Te Māngai Pāho transfer to Te Mātāwai;
• Te Mātāwai takes on the role and functions of Te Pūtahi Paoho in respect of Māori Television;
• Te Mātāwai makes two appointments to the Board of NZ On Air; and Te Mātāwai host an annual Crown-Māori Te Reo Māori Forum.