September 19, 2017
Community backing helps plan for te reo growth
A Taranaki Maori language advocate says Maori language week has been a great opportunity to plan for the year and encourage people to use te reo Maori in their everyday activities.
Dr Ruakere Hond, who is also a member of national Maori language body Te Matawai, says he was impressed with the way the news media embraced the cause this year.
There were also a lot of community level activities, with reo Maori groups opening their doors to the wider public.
"We're starting to understand more the role of communities in the revitalisation of reo. Rather than just speaking reo, which is obviously important, it is actually about having a group of people who are committed to using te reo on a daily basis," he says.
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