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Transport officials will meet next month to look at how the Maori language could be used more on traffic signs.
Hawea Vercoe, the Rotorua school principal who hit the headlines last year when he was pulled up for using the Maori word for school -- Kura -- on his bus, said he appreciated officials were looking into the greater use of te reo Maori on official road signs.
Mr Vercoe was told about the officials' plans in an email following up an earlier meeting he had to sort out what he called Kura-keti, or Kuragate.
Bob Gibson, principal engineer at Land Transport New Zealand, told Mr Vercoe a meeting between his organisation and the Transport Ministry would take place in early February.
"We intend identifying the issues and a way forward on the matter," Mr Gibson wrote, though he warned progress could be slow.
"A decision is bound by legal and Parliamentary processes and these will include consultation with a wide range of organisations and with the general public.
"Such a process and any legislative change that might result could under normal circumstances take a number of years."
Mr Vercoe proposed a trial for bilingual road signs following the debate over the Kura sign.
He has suggests signs such as those where road works end, could read "Works End - Kia Ora".
In his email Mr Gibson acknowledges Mr Vercoe's interest and says he will keep him informed about progress.
On the issue of the use of the word Kura on Mr Vercoe's school bus, Mr Gibson said he was attempting to make it a legal option for schools.
The problem was that the law which allowed police to prosecute drivers who pass stopped buses at more then 20km/h did not apply to buses with just the Kura sign.
Mr Gibson said he was seeking approval for the Kura sign to have the same effect.
- NZPA
