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Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says it isn’t enough to just acknowledge the crown promoted policies aimed at discouraging use of te reo Maori, and a full apology is called for.
Maori Developemnt Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has inserted the acknowledgement into his Te Reo Maori Bill now before parliament.
Attorney General Christopher Finlayson says it’s a better solution than a generic apology.
But Ms Turei says it’s up to the people harmed to say whether an apology is appropriate, not the minister.
"I think Chris Finlayson is just being unnecessarily belligerent. He likes to think of himself as really responsive to Maori issues but only on his own terms. He won't listen to people he doesn't think has a similar status to himself and I think this is part of that problem," she says.
The bill sets up a new body, Te Matawai, to promote Maori language regeneration independent of the government’s efforts.
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