April 26, 2017
Minister seeks unity and resolve on reo revival
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has brought forward the timetable for Te Matawai to come up with its strategy for reinvigorating the Maori language.
The new te reo Maori advocacy group is meeting in Wellington today with government departments and other agencies with responsibilities towards the language, including broadcast funding agency Te Mangai Paho, Te Puni Kokiri, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Mr Flavell says there have been strategies in the past, with a lack of commitment to having them implemented.
He's keen that agencies work together and understand what they need to do to support the direction set by Maori through Te Matawai.
"Under the legislation it's a requirement to have the strategy set up by September and I have asked that to happen by August simply to make sure everything is tidy before we head out for the election. Today is about pulling everyone together to make sure we are on the same page and it's been good," he says.
A key element in any future policy is likely to be the attitude of new Education Minister Nikki Kaye to calls for te reo Maori to become a core subject at primary school – a call that has won support from former National prime minister Jim Bolger.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL
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