Maori in Australia speedily losing language

The large number of Maori living in Australia face losing their native language in part because they assimilate so easily, according to findings by a Victoria University researcher.

One in six Maori live in Australia, with more than 10,000 speakers of te reo Maori crossing the Tasman between 1986 and 2006, said Paul Hamer, senior associate of Victoria University's Institute of Policy Studies.

Maori fit easily into Australian workplaces and communities, and have a high intermarriage rate, meaning they were perhaps more in danger of losing their language than other immigrant groups, Mr Hamer said.

Living in different neighbourhoods also made it difficult to keep the language alive.

Six per cent of Maori in Australia speak te reo at home, compared with 25 per cent in 1986.

While many adults were enthusiastic about their language, there were few opportunities to speak and learn te reo. Maori and Dutch were among the languages least well retained among immigrants, while Lebanese Arabic was one of the best retained languages.

Among Maori speakers working in Australia were 140 te reo-speaking teachers.

Another problem faced New Zealand children from total immersion schools, who were still learning English but did not always get the help needed in Australia. Not all states provided tuition in English to New Zealanders as they did for children from other countries, Mr Hamer said.

- NZPA