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Labour’s Maori development spokersperson Nanaaia Mahuta is welcoming the extra time the Maori affairs select committee has been given to look at the Maori Language Bill.
She says the bill needs more work, because the first draft was about structures and funding rather than the survival of te reo Maori.
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell inherited the bill from his predecessor Pita Sharples, but may be ready to rethink it.
Ms Mahuta says Maori language strategy must be developed by language experts, iwi and educators, with funding decisions flowing from that strategy.
A glaring omission in the bill was that funding for te reo outcomes in the education sector was not covered.
There also needs to be recognition of investment iwi may want to make in building te reo capacity throughout the country.
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