November 26, 2014
Iwi fail in reo support test
A Maori language advocacy group has slammed the iwi who stand to become to overseers of Maori language strategy under a bill before parliament.
Te Reo Maori Bill will set up an iwi-dominated group, Te Matawai, which will set strategy and appoint directors to agencies like the Maori Langauge Commission, broadcast fundign agency Te Mangai Paho and Maori Television.
Umere told the Maori Affairs Select Committee its assessment of iwi corporate is they have failed to stand up for te reo.
It says iwi leaders have been silent on Television New Zealand outsourcing its Maori programmes of the weakening of Maori Television's current affairs programming after its expose of leadership issues in Maori organisations.'
Umere says the corproates are about profit, not reo.
It says Te Matawai is opposed by the groups that took the te reo claim to the Waitangi Tribunal, and there is little community support for the new model.
Rather than waste money on the new structure, it wants to see the government set Maori language targets set and report annually on progress.
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