I understand that Te Reo Maori is an official language of New Zealand but through lack of Government interest and motivation to increase public awareness, it is sadly in decline. It is a unique language which is only found in New Zealand and as Tikanga Maori adds much to our tourism dollars each year surely it makes sense to retain such language and culture. You cannot have one without the other!
If there was incentive for businesses, schools, newspapers, radio, TV, Government Departments, etc. to display dual signage and put the Maori language out there 52 weeks of the year, surely it must create better education in the language. But no, that would dilute the language and it would be boring! What happened to national identity?
The Minister of Education could do much to ensure that the language does not become extinct by make it compulsory in pre and primary school and encourage secondary students to take it as an NCEA option. It would be one that Maori students could relate to and excel in, to help raise Maori achievement. Instead it was actively discouraged in one Auckland primary school with Asian language replacing it. The Minister of Education has just proudly announced $3.3 million funding for the provision of Asian language teaching in schools, when there is a shortage of teachers of Te Reo!
There is an old saying, "Clean up your own backyard first before delving into someone else's."
Now I am not racist but it becomes very obvious that it is not PC to mention the ethnic reason for rise in Auckland house prices, but it is apparently okay to mention publicly that Maori children make up more than 50 per cent of children in care, that a great proportion of those locked up in prison are Maori, etc. We hear it every week on the news. You can jump to your own conclusions of the inference that springs to mind.
