Source: Human Rights Commission
This was originally published on February 2 2022 in Stuff.co.nz.
By Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon
As the nation marks another Waitangi Day, it’s time to once and for all put our collective weight behind uplifting and upholding a beautiful taonga that is sitting right under our noses, or perhaps at the tip of our tongues.
Te reo Māori, alongside New Zealand Sign Language, is an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand which is fitting but there is a sad element to this.
English is a de facto official language by virtue of the numbers who speak it. It is not at risk and does not need the protection afforded to te reo Māori, a protection that is ultimately outlined in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and more recently the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
One way to protect and indeed strengthen the position of te reo Māori in Aotearoa is to add it to our foundational subjects in schools. I have made my thoughts known to those in parliament, because there is a momentum we can’t afford to lose.
A lot of that wave of support has been created by the ‘Kōhanga Reo generations’, that have helped spread the language through homes, whānau and circles of influence. Te reo is appearing across all sectors of society – in our news broadcasts, popular music and social media trends but more must be done to make sure this is not a fleeting infatuation of the masses. It is time to make te reo Māori a core subject in schools and for the government to invest to ensures this can happen.
It must be remembered that the only reason the revitalisation of te reo Māori is a topic is because of the negative impacts of colonisation. In the early years after the signing of Te Tiriti, te reo Māori was still the most used language across the country and many prominent Pākehā and missionaries learnt to speak it. In the latter part of the 19th century, the pendulum swung with the influx of new settlers and the speaking of te reo was actively discouraged despite the value it held for Māori. Te reo was suppressed with a new focus on assimilation and generations of tangata whenua were punished for speaking their language.
However, redress is not the driving reason te reo should become a core subject in schools. The government has already seen the need for local history to be taught. Learning our history is an absolute must, with discussions around events like the New Zealand Wars a necessity. Te reo can also play a role in bringing about context, understanding and empathy between Māori and non-Māori. Ideally, the normalisation of te reo would help address issues grounded in colonisation and structural racism. As a lifelong student of te reo Māori, it has helped me build connections with communities I serve and bridge the gap between many diverse cultures and tangata whenua. Imagine the potential for generational change if everyone spoke English and Māori to at least a basic level.
When people are confronted with such change there are often challenges and fear but we must overcome that. Tūwhitia te hopo. Banish the fear! Overcome it and move forward and embrace the wonder of a new Aotearoa.
The appetite for the language is there with wānanga and adult courses oversubscribed as people, including non-Māori, begin to realise the benefits of being bi-lingual and coherent in a uniquely New Zealand way. Some migrants I have engaged with have been shocked that the indigenous language is already not being taught to everyone in schools.
I understand the government is working towards strengthening Māori education and their intentions are to be applauded but their strategy seems to lack teeth in terms of tangible, urgent action. For years we have heard that there are not enough Māori language teachers and it is true that many popular courses are restricted because of that issue. But instead of raising this excuse again and again, surely it is time to act. I would like to see investment in the Budget for incentives to increase the number of Māori teachers, to resource our future as a bi-cultural nation which sees both Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti thriving. Let’s make teaching, both te reo and in general, an attractive profession. Let’s provide support for those who wish to serve our future generations.
50 years ago, the Māori language petition was delivered to Parliament seeking active recognition for te reo Māori. It is time to progress that recognition and safeguard the language well into the next 50 years and beyond.
