'It's up to Maori' to save language

Maori must take a strong role in the development of their language rather than waiting for Government handouts, says a leading educationist.

Manukau Institute of Technology Maori education director Kotuku Tibble has criticised Maori apathy he believes has left generations of Maori unable to and unwilling to learn the language.

"It is not up to the Maori Language Commission to save the language - it is up to us as Maori to encourage the use of the language on a daily basis.

"We have had a lot of success in teaching our children in kohanga reo and kura kaupapa, but when they get home many cannot speak in their language."

He said it was promising that more non-Maori were using and learning Maori.

"The hardest battle is not with non-Maori. It is with Maori who need to stop making excuses and do something to promote and encourage the use of the reo."

However, Maori Language Commission chief executive Haami Piripi said the $2.3 million paid to the commission last year was a fraction of what was required to have an impact on low Maori language use.

"We have three to four generations of people who have been robbed of the reo. They require structured learning. That requires money."

Mr Piripi also railed at suggestions it was not the Government's responsibility to help.

"The Government is totally to blame for the condition of the language. The Treaty of Waitangi hearing into the language clearly showed a policy of deliberate and conscious effort on the part of the Crown to extinguish the Maori language."

Mr Piripi supported calls to get more adults learning Maori, but said it took time and resources.

At 2001 census

* 136,000 Maori adults (or 42 per cent of the Maori adult population) can speak and understand some Maori.

* 9 per cent of Maori adults can speak Maori well or very well.

* 33 per cent have some Maori language skills.

* Nearly half of Maori language speakers were under 25 years.

* The language is most often used by children, in traditional Maori language settings such as marae, religious activities and education.

* Maori language rates are highest in Gisborne, Bay of Plenty and Northland.