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The Maori Party’s Te Tai Tokerau candidate is welcoming what he sees as Labour support for Maori to become a core subject in schools.
Te Hira Paenga says te reo is a treasure for all New Zealanders, and more needs to be done to save it and raise its status.
Labour Maori spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta says her party’s goal of te reo for all schoolchildren was aspirational, but it will require a larger teaching workforce.
Mr Paenga says as teacher for the past decade he has seen what is possible.
"From a rangatahi perspective, they will pick it up as second nature, and I’ve done a stint at St Peters and I’ve done a stint at St Kentigerns and I’ve been at Dilworth College and I’ve realized that if you dress it up, if you put a lot of quality into the delivery of the programme, it’s a win win situation," he says.
Mr Paenga says speakers of te reo Maori need to share what they have.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE HIRA PAENGA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjAwODI=
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