Commitment to Mâori language revitalisation paying dividends

Mâori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia today welcomed the results of an audit of the Mâori Language Strategy which acknowledged significant increases in the number of Mâori using the Mâori language.

The Mâori Language Strategy is a multi-agency 25-year project which set out in October 2003 with the aim of revitalising the Mâori language. The six lead agencies include: Te Puni Kôkiri (TPK), Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Mâori (the Mâori Language Commission), Te Mângai Pâho (the Mâori Broadcasting Funding Agency), the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the Ministry of Education and the National Library of New Zealand.

The Office of the Auditor General today tabled in Parliament an audit of the effectiveness of these six lead agencies and made a series of recommendations. Mr Horomia says the audit report provides valuable insights that will feed into a full review of the Mâori Language Strategy scheduled for 2008.

“The Mâori language is vital to Mâori cultural development and contributes to New Zealand’s unique national identity. This government remains committed to the Mâori Language Strategy and the revitalisation of the Mâori language.

“As the Auditor General notes, there has been a significant increase in the number of Mâori adults who can speak, read, write and understand te reo Mâori. The 2006 Mâori Language Survey found 52 per cent of Mâori adults had some level of Mâori language speaking proficiency – up 10 percent from 2001; and 67 per cent had some level of Mâori language listening proficiency – an 8 per cent increase.

“I welcome this latest report. It provides lead agencies with useful and constructive feedback that will help to further improve their performance in regard to the strategy. I have been advised by TPK that they agree with all the recommendations and have developed a work programme with the other lead agencies to implement all of them.”