tpk-maihi-karauna

Minister’s Foreword

  • Introduction to Maihi Karauna, the Crown’s Māori language strategy.
  • Importance of protecting and promoting te reo Māori as it is essential for New Zealand's diversity and partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • Acknowledges the historical decline of te reo Māori and the need for a new revitalisation approach.
  • Vision for a future where te reo Māori is spoken widely in informal settings, not just formal ones like marae.

1. Introduction

  • Te reo Māori is one of New Zealand's official languages and a unique aspect of national identity.
  • The language saw a decline in the latter half of the 20th century as English became dominant.
  • Despite challenges, te reo Māori has shown resilience through community initiatives.
  • Current status: Te reo Māori is categorized as vulnerable according to UNESCO, with significant action needed to ensure its survival.
  • Importance of Crown support and collaboration with iwi and Māori to revitalise the language.

2. Strategic Direction

Vision: Kia Mauri Ora te Reo
  • Goals for a future where te reo Māori is valued, learned, and used daily by all New Zealanders.
  • Aim for te reo Māori to be a part of national identity, spoken in homes, schools, and communities.
Major Actions
  • Whakanui: Create conditions for te reo Māori to be valued.
  • Whakaako: Create conditions for learning te reo Māori.
  • Whakaatu: Create visibility for te reo Māori through use in media, signage, and public life.

3. Whakanui - Value of Te Reo Māori

  • Crown action will focus on increasing the value assigned to te reo Māori among New Zealanders.
  • Activities will include promoting Māori culture and language through arts, heritage, and media sectors.

4. Whakaako - Learning Te Reo Māori

  • The Crown will enhance access to te reo Māori in education.
  • Integrate te reo into early childhood and primary education, aiming for greater availability of skilled Māori language teachers.

5. Whakaatu - Usage of Te Reo Māori

  • Promote the everyday use of te reo Māori in public services and community life.
  • Support broadcasting and online content in te reo Māori, aiming for more visible and heard language use.

6. Implementation and Monitoring

  • A phased approach to the implementation of strategies from 2019 to 2023, with agreed milestones for evaluation.
  • Monitoring efforts will include data collection via national surveys and assessments of language usage and proficiency.

7. Priority Groups

Young People
  • Focus on developing te reo Māori skills among youth, as they represent the future generation of speakers.
Proficient Speakers
  • Engage proficient speakers to guide language learning and intergenerational transmission.
Public Sector
  • Encourage public sector employees to acquire and utilize te reo Māori to promote its use across communities.

Conclusion

  • Emphasizes collective effort and partnership between the Crown and Māori, encapsulated in the metaphor of Te Whare o Te Reo Mauri Ora.
  • Urgent action is needed to ensure the viability of te reo Māori and to foster a bilingual New Zealand by 2040.

Appendix A: Theoretical Underpinnings

  • Discusses language planning elements like critical awareness and acquisition necessary for Māori language revitalisation.