May 17, 2015
Strong regions good for culture
A Maori social policy analyst says revitalizing the regions is important for Maori language and culture.
Reina Tuai Harris works for the Salvation Army, which last week released its Mixed Fortunes report spelling out how Maori in regions like Tai Tokerau and Tairawhiti get a raw deal when it comes to health, education, and economic opportunity.
She says what those regions do have is a richness in language and culture, but without investment it will be hard to keep communities healthy and functioning well.
"You need people up there, otherwise as the Mixed Fortunes report says, you are going to get this imbalance and there is going to be a lot more kaumatuatanga, so there are going to be a lot more older people in those regions, and you need those young people in the regions, you need more people, and you need to stop the drain of the talent going towards the cities," Ms Harris says.
Maori communities need to make plans for their future and push for more government support.
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