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Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell says his revised Maori Language Bill will provide for a staged transfer of reo assets to iwi control while also keeping the crown involved in Maori language revival.
Cabinet this week approved extensive changes in the bill originally introduced by Mr Flavell’s predecessor Dr Sir Pita Sharples.
There was widespread concern the original bill let the crown off the hook, and it also overlooked significant stakeholders like urban Maori.
Mr Flavell says there were also problems with the speed at which a new iwi-dominated body, Te Matawai, could take over functions now done by a range of boards and government agencies.
"I felt that we needed to get our structures right, get everything in the right place, so have a clause in there that allows for one year for Te Matawai, the Maori side of the equation, to be established and to be ready to receive the assets, in the case the resources held by Te Taura Whiri specifically around community language development, but the broadcasting elements, Maori Television, Maori radio stations etc will still remain in the hands of Te Mangai Paho for a period," he says.
Once the bill is translated into Maori he hopes to have it passed by the middle of next year.
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