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Iwi leaders have swung in behind a proposed law change that would put them in charge of Maori language strategy.
Many Maori language advocates have slammed the plan by Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples to create a new body, Te Matawai, to oversee crown entities like the Maori Language Commission, the Maori Broadcast Funding Agency and Maori Television.
They says the language belongs to those who use it, not the iwi who oversaw its decline.
But Iwi Leaders Group participant Willie te Aho says a subgroup led by Rahui Papa of Waikato-Tainui have been working with officials on the bill and related policy.
"This is not grass roots reo development from our kohanga and our whanau and hapu and in our iwi. This is about the crown's delivery of their committment to the Maori language, and it was a restructuring of that area, and so that's what has recently been decided by cabinet with the approval of the iwi leadership group leading this matter," he says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WILLIE TE AHO CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MTk1NjI=
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