Don Brash labelled a 'dinosaur' for Te Reo views

Don Brash. File photo / NZPA

ACT leader Don Brash's opposition to Te Reo Maori being compulsorily available in schools has brought him under fire from other parties and social media users.

Mr Brash this morning critcised the Maori Party's policy decision to offer Te Reo in all schools as "a very retrograde step".

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said Mr Brash's comments showed he was leading the party into oblivion.

"We are watching the final ACT, and Don Brash is bringing down the curtain," said Dr Sharples. "His opposition to New Zealand children being able to learn Maori is irresponsible, discriminatory and out-of-touch.

Labour's Kelvin Davis supported the Maori Party's policy, but said he feared a public backlash.

On social media, however, opinion seems slanted against brash, with one Tweet labelling him a "dinosaur stuck in the oppressive past".

Twitter user Jen X said "Brash and his backwards views belong in a nursing home".

Green MP Catherine Delahunty tweeted that she supported a trilingual education policy, one that also included sign language.

She also warned Mr Brash's "outbursts" were doing the party no favours, and criticised Mr Davis' cautious response on frogblog.org.nz.

"The way we save Te Reo is through leadership, not pandering to the racism so succinctly articulated by Don Brash today."

Maori Party education spokesperson Te Ururoa Flavell told Radio New Zealand views on Maori language were very different today than in past decades.

"Once upon a time everybody did a big huge jump up and down about Hinewhi Mohi singing the national anthem in Maori language.

"Look where we are at the moment, where everybody joins in."

- HERALD ONLINE