Te Maori: Maori have reason to celebrate

Kohanga reo are vital in keeping the Maori language alive.

Greetings to us all.

Firstly, let me acknowledge those involved in the establishment of the Koha Shed in Rotorua. I understand that it grew from the idea of a few committed people to assist those families who are struggling to survive. What the whanau do is to collect in all sorts of things including furniture, clothing, utensils, etc, given to them to on-sell at reduced rates. I am told the place is widely supported, so let me offer my congratulations in their efforts for care for the wellbeing of others.

Just recently, the Maori Affairs Select Committee from Parliament went to Whakatane to hear submissions on the Tuhoe bill. It was a wonderful gathering. We heard of the aspirations of Tuhoe and a real desire to advance themselves to be self-determining and look after their own. They talk for themselves, they seek to look after and organise their own affairs. Te Urewera is of course at the heart of their claim and it will be governed by a board made up of representatives of Tuhoe and the Crown. The statement was made that Tuhoe will not exclude anyone from the Urewera. I wish them well.

I recently heard of a kura kaupapa Maori in Whanganui who have stated that those sending their children to their school must stay committed to that school and not send them to other schools to ensure continuity of Maori language. They have also established language classes for parents, which is a really enlightened approach. For perhaps 20 or more years, there has been a group who send their children to kohanga reo but then on to mainstream schools instead of kura kaupapa Maori or wharekura. Why? As far as I know, it is because of a concern that their children will not speak English and be disadvantaged as a result. Let's be clear that we have English all around us, day in day out, so our children will never be held back by not having English, it is our own language that is being threatened here. So it is great that language classes are being set up for parents so they can support their tamariki in learning through te reo Maori.

I have also heard of a school in Whangarei who have closed their doors to students from a local charter school because their school is one that is not supported by the teachers unions. I think that is sad indeed when politics get in the way of the learning of our children.

I welcome your feedback: mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz Phone 0508 924 274.

Te Ururoa Flavell is the MP of Waiariki and the co-leader of the Maori Party.

Maori translation:

Kei nga peka o te wao nui a Tane tena tatou.

I te tuatahi me mihi ra ka tika ki te hunga i whakariterite nei i te Koha Shed i Rotorua nei. Kaore ano au kia tae atu ki tenei wahi, heoi ano ki taku rongo, i tupu ake te whakaaro ki etahi, ki te awhina i te hunga e rongo nei i te pohara i te kore moni kore mahi ranei. Ko
ta te whanau nei, he kohikohi i nga rawa, nga rauemi, nga kakahu, nga taonga toenga nei, he mea kua tukuna ki a ratou hei mea hokohoko mo te moni pakupaku nei. Kua rongo ake au, kei te kaha tautokona te wahi nei no reira ka nui te mihi ki te whanau nei e
whakaaro nui nei mo etahi atu.

Nonatatanei i tae atu te Komiti Maori o te Whare Paremata ki Whakatane ki te whakarongo ki nga kai tono mo te pire o Ngai Tuhoe. He rawe taua hui. I rongo nga taringa i nga tumanako, i nga wawata o te hunga i arahi nei i nga kereme. He kaha tonu te hiahia o te iwi ki te neke whakamua, ki te whakatinana i te mana motuhake o Ngai Tuhoe ara kia riro ma ratou ano ratou e tiaki, e korero, e hapai, e whakatika. Ko Te Ure
wera i te tino putake o nga whakaaro, a, ka whakahaeretia e tetahi poari, ara he hunga o Ngai Tuhoe, ko etahi ma te Kawanatanga e tohu. I puta ano te korero e kore a Ngai Tuhoe e aukati i a Te Urewera ki tetahi. Kia kaha Ngai Tuhoe.

Katahi ano au ka rongo mo tetahi Kura Kaupapa Maori i Whanganui e kii ana, mena ka
tonoa nga tamariki ki taua kura, e kore nga maatua e tuku i a ratou tamariki ki kura ke, a, ka tu etahi akoranga reo Maori mo nga matua. Katahi te whakaaro marama. Mo nga rua tekau tau neke atu, ara tetahi wahanga o tatou e tuku nei i a tatou tamariki ki te
kohanga reo, katahi ka tonoa ki nga Kura Auraki kaua ki nga kura kaupapa Maori, ki nga Wharekura ranei. He aha i pera ai? Ki taku mohio, he mataku no te nuinga, ka kore nga tamariki e korero Pakeha. Katahi te pohehe ko tera. E hoa ma, ka rongo tatou i te reo Pakeha i te ao i te po, no reira e kore nga tamariki e noho kore reo Pakeha. He tamariki i tenei whenua, kaore i te mohio ki te korero Pakeha? Karekau, a koia na te whakautu ki tera patai, ka mutu ko to tatou reo te reo e mate nei. Engari he rawe te whakaaro ki te whakatu i nga akoranga reo mo nga matua kia kore nga matua e noho i te whakamaa mo te ngoikore, kore reo ranei. I rongo ano hoki au mo tetahi kura i Whangarei e aukati nei i nga tamariki o tetahi Kura Hourua i nga akoranga i taua kura i te mea kei tetahi Kura Hourua ratou, a , kaore to ratou uniana i te whakaae ki aua kura! He aha hoki tetahi kupu ki tera momo huarahi! Ka aroha hoki!