August 18, 2015
Goal to have everyone in Aotearoa speaking Maori
The recently appointed chief executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori Ngahiwi Apanui says its his aim to have everyone in the country speaking Maori.
He says by 2050 the majority of New Zealanders will be Maori, Pasifika and Asian with Pakeha a minority of largely superannuitants.
Ngahiwi Apanui says his job is to put the building blocks in place to ensure te reo Maori is in very good heart not just for Maori but the country.
"Our people will be the engine room of this country and our people will be leading it. So it's important that we at Te Taura Whiri our long term goal is that the whole of the country speaks Maori. We are not going to achieve that probably in my time but I tell you what mate while I'm at Te Taura Whiri I'll going to give it a damn good job trying to make it happen" he says.
Ngahiwi Apanui says Maori language and culture are essential for the leadership the country requires.
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