December 03, 2013
Language on decline
The Maori Language commission Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Maori is concerned at census data showing a decline in the number of Maori who feel comfortable having a conversation in te reo.
Chief executive Glenis Philip-Barbara says declining enrolments in Maori medium education; emigration; media; and parents not speaking Maori to their children are having an effect.
The census showed the number of Maori speakers has dropped from over 131,000 in 2006 to 125,000.
There was a 6.2 percent drop in the proportion of speakers under 15, indicating the rate of transmission by parents to babies and children is decreasing.
Ms Philip-Barbara says the survival of the language depends on it being used on a day to day basis.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd