August 07, 2018
Too many standing outside house of reo
Māori language promotion body Te Mātāwai says the crown’s draft Māori language strategy should lead to better coordination between the multiple te reo Māori activities of Crown agencies and entities.
Chair Waihoroi Shortland said Te Rautaki Maihi Karauna complements Te Mātāwai’s own strategy Maihi Maori and makes it clear where the various roles and responsibilities lie.
While his organisation has some funds for programmes within Māori communities, the bulk of available resources lie with the crown.
He compared the progress towards the goals of widespread language revitalisation with the layout of a wharenui, with a pou āwha on the outside, a pou tokomanawa inside the door and a pou tūārongo at the far end.
"Most of our people are still standing in front of that pole in front of the house of the reo, and they're still standing in the rain. They still haven't felt the warmth of the inside of the house of the reo, and our biggest task is going to be to bring those people into the house. Nothing will change unless the people with no reo are catered for as the priority," Mr Shortland says.
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