Real reason
As the call goes out, in some quarters, for the compulsory teaching of Maori, te reo, it was interesting to read Hekia Parata's self-aggrandising article in the Herald on the advances in Maori education during her stewardship and find she seems against the proposition.
Rodney Hide had, in an earlier article, given very cogent reasons why it is impractical and untenable. Ms Parata stated that in 2015, $400 million was given by the Government to promote te reo. That amounted then to $2800 for each speaker. Imagine that on a national education level.
The only occupations where fluency in te reo is essential for employment are in some areas of law, the media, education and tourism. These fields require much broader educational qualifications than are offered by te reo. In education, te reo seems to be a self-promoting requirement. One needs more fluent te reo teachers to teach te reo.
Bryan Johnson
Omokoroa