July 01, 2013
Names the theme for Māori language week
Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples is endorsing the good pronunciation of Māori names as the theme for Māori language week.
Launching 'Te Wiki ō Te Reo Māori' in Auckland this morning, Dr Sharples said names contain history and identity.
He says through treaty settlements and submissions to the Geographic Board Māori are trying to roll back two centuries of losing names, and the public is responding.
"I think generally in New Zealand our pronunciation is getting better, except in parliament, but from broadcasters and educators most definitely, there are more people getting Māori names right or correct, and part of 'Te Wiki ō Te Reo Māori' is about providing people with the tools, with the pronunciation, but with the support to start with well known place names perhaps," Dr Sharples says.
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