The Minister of Māori Affairs, Hon Dr Pita Sharples, has released today the proposed new Māori Language Strategy for consultation with Māori language stakeholders.
Published: Monday, 16 December 2013 | Rāhina, 16 Hakihea, 2013
MEDIA RELEASE
Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Minister of Māori Affairs
Monday, 16 December 2013
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, has released today 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.”
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 Pāoho 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.
The proposed strategy also builds upon the foundation established in Budget 2013 where $44.7 million was invested in te reo Māori.
“Going forward, whānau, hapū and iwi, government agencies and the wider community must fully engage and take ownership of this project of national significance, and work together for the strategy to fully succeed.
“Te Mātāwai is designed to oversee the transfer of control of te reo Māori back to its tribal origins, and to become the mechanism for mobilising whānau and iwi to reclaim te rangatiratanga o ō rātou ake reo tuku iho – their traditional dialects. The seven main dialect groupings will be represented on Te Mātāwai, as well as urban and national groups with interests in te reo Māori.
“The next step will be to take this proposed strategy out for consultation in the new year,” said Dr Sharples. “Full details of the consultation hui will be confirmed in January 2014. Following consultation, I will seek final approval of the new Māori Language Strategy from Cabinet.”
ENDS