February 03, 2014
Reo strategy out for consultation
People have only a few weeks to make their views known on Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples’ radical plan for restructuring the Maori language sector.
Dr Sharples wants to get the changes in place before he retires at the next election, so he is giving people until February 28 to make submissions on the proposed new Maori language strategy, which was released in December.
He says the focus needs to be on supporting language learning in the home.
He also wants to create an iwi-driven electoral college to appoint the boards of the language commission Te Taura Whiri, Te Mangai Paho Maori broadcast funding agency, and eventually the Maori Television Service.
Dr. Sharples will present the draft strategy to the Iwi Leaders’ Forum in Waitangi this week, and then to seven consultation hui around the country over the next two weeks.
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