Keep Te Reo alive

Foxton Primary School has offered full immersion Te Reo since 1995. Pictured in their current class is from the left, Delphi Knox 6, and Kahuharariki Hikaka-Wereta.

Horowhenua primary schools are ensuring Te Reo is alive and well in the district, including two schools offering full immersion classes and another hiring Te Reo teachers for three hours a week.

A new online survey by Te Ipukarea, The National Maori Language Institute at Auckland University of Technology, highlighted that Maori, Pakeha and other ethnicities who responded believe Te Reo Maori is an important part of New Zealand's national identity and should be compulsory in primary schools.

Both Foxton Primary School and Shannon School offer full immersion Te Reo Maori.

Foxton Primary School principal Ani Skipper said that learning Te Reo has many benefits for children.

"Cognitively the brain is more advanced. Te Reo helps with self-identity, increases confidence in learning, celebrates diversity and breaks down cultural barriers," she said.

"Our kids can be ambassadors for New Zealand because they have learnt who they are and where they are from. They are in a better position to become leaders in our communities."

Annaleise Knox enrolled her six-year-old pakeha daughter into full immersion Te Reo at Foxton Primary School.

She said it's not like going to a French language class. It has a deeper meaning.

"It is so much more than just the language. It is the wairua, the essence of Maori culture," she said.

"It is an honour to have my daughter as part of the Rumaki."

Koputaroa School principal Dan Maclean said although the school did not have a full immersion class available they supported the initiative to make Te Reo compulsory in schools, paying for Te Reo teachers to come in and teach students three hours per week.

"We teach our children both Te Reo and tikanga [culture and custom]," she said.

"We would love to see Te Reo Maori made compulsory in schools."

The director of Te Ipukarea Tania Ka'ai said that learning Te Reo at school is what people want for their children and grandchildren.

"We are world leaders in language revitalisation. "The next step is for Government to make Te Reo Maori compulsory in primary schools," she said.

"The rest of the world looks to New Zealand for inspiration and guidance on how to keep indigenous language alive."

According to Statistics New Zealand, 377,073 students were enrolled in New Zealand primary schools in 2016, 72 per cent received no Maori language education, 25 per cent studied Maori as a subject or equivalent and three per cent were involved in Maori language immersion.