Protecting Te Reo Māori as “A Forever Language”

In this post, we look at the importance of te Reo Māori, successive acknowledgments by the Crown of wrongdoing towards the language, and emphasize the urgent need for all of us to actively protect and promote Te Reo Māori and the place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Aotearoa.

The Importance of  Te Reo Māori

Te Reo Māori is more than a language; it is a living embodiment of Māori culture and worldview. It carries the stories, traditions, and values of Māori, connecting generations and fostering a sense of belonging. For all New Zealanders, Te Reo Māori enriches our national identity, offering a unique perspective and deepening our understanding of the land we share.

Historical Injustices and Apologies

The Crown’s historical treatment of Te Reo Māori has been marked by neglect and active suppression.  The imposition of English schooling (Native Schools Act 1867) with tamariki punished for speaking their first language in school and policies aimed at assimilation prevented use of the language. This caused significant loss of language and cultural erosion.

This is explicitly acknowledged by the Crown in section 6 of Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori Māori Language Act 2016 and has been acknowledged in successive Treaty settlements, for example:

Apology to Moriori: “By the beginning of the twentieth century ta rē (the Moriori language) as a living language had been lost to Moriori and Aotearoa New Zealand. For its failure to actively protect this miheke (taonga), the Crown apologises sincerely.”

Apology to Ngāi Tahu: “The Crown acknowledges that it has failed to act towards Ngāi Tahu reasonably and with the utmost good faith in a manner consistent with the honour of the Crown. This includes the failure to protect the Ngāi Tahu language and culture, leading to significant loss and hardship for the iwi.”

Apology to Tūhoe: “The Crown profoundly regrets its actions which have caused the loss of the Tūhoe language and culture. The Crown acknowledges its failure to protect and promote the use of te reo Tūhoe, contributing to the erosion of Tūhoe identity and heritage.”

Apology to Ngāti Awa: “The Crown profoundly regrets its failure to protect the Māori language and acknowledges the significant impact this has had on Ngāti Awa. The Crown apologises for the loss of te reo Māori and the cultural erosion that resulted from its policies and actions.”

A Call to Action: Protecting Te Reo Māori

The Crown’s apologies are a step towards reconciliation, but as we always know with any apology it must be accompanied by concrete actions to protect and promote Te Reo Māori.

Through the years, the Crown has taken these steps and expressed through legislation and policies its commitment to protecting and promoting Te Reo Māori.

For example, it will “work in partnership with iwi and Māori to continue actively to protect and promote this taonga, the Māori language, for future generations (section 6 of Te Ture mō Te Reo Māori Māori Language Act 2016) and in the Moriori Deed of Settlement – “The Crown is now actively committed to working in partnership with iwi and Māori to continue to protect and promote this taonga, the Māori language, for future generations.”

This path towards reconciliation needs to continue.    No New Zealander wants a repeat of historical wrongs.

Yet, as recently found by the Waitangi Tribunal in its report Ngā Mātāpono The Principles, we are now at the point of “Constitutional Crisis”, where not only the use of Te Reo Māori is under threat, but Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document for Aotearoa.

Conclusion

Te Reo Māori is a taonga/treasure.  Active protection and promotion of the language is the right of Māori and benefits the entire country.  Going backwards is not an option. No New Zealander wants to see a repeat of historical wrongs.

We cannot let this Constitutional Crisis unfold. We all need to take steps to actively protect and promote Te Reo Māori and honour the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.