Māori Development Minister, Hon Nanaia Mahuta, says the Crown’s commitment to ensure basic te reo is spoken by a million people in 2040 took a major step forward today.

The Maihi Karauna, the Crown’s Māori language strategy, was launched at Te Matatini in recognition of the festival’s passion and commitment to te reo. This strategy is intended to complement the Maihi Māori which supports iwi, hapū and whānau aspirations towards te reo Māori revitalisation.

“Te reo Māori is special to Aotearoa it provides a unique context to experience our culture and history and the language is an important way to share our values and worldview.

“Te Matatini is an ideal forum to launch the Maihi Karauna as it draws together in the kapa haka art form the aspects of Māori oral histories through waiata, haka, mōteatea and poi compositions.

“The Crown has long held the responsibility to protect te reo Māori as a taonga and the Maihi Karauna sets out a context for that responsibility to inform how Government can achieve this for all of us to use, share and protect te reo Māori.

“I know that for te reo to thrive by 2040 we all need to do our part, working together to make te reo a working, living language,” says Nanaia Mahuta.

Minister Mahuta says these are bold goals stretching out to 2040 and a practical step forward will be through initiatives which are focussed on rangatahi. Three areas of focus include:

• Hosting rangatahi regional workshops and a national summit.
• A social marketing campaign to promote the value of te reo Māori.
• Snap-reo, a series of quick, micro-lessons in te reo Māori, available on a variety of media.

“We want everyone to feel supported in their efforts to use te reo, wherever they are and with or talking to. Importantly we want young people to feel confident in who they are and coming from New Zealand – a way to achieve this is to share a connection through te reo Māori,” said Nanaia Mahuta.

Learn more about the strategy and its development here.