April 20, 2016
Reedy role in reo reform crucial
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox is crediting Ngati Porou scholar Professor Sir Tamati Reedy for inspiring the reform of Maori language bill.
The Te Reo Maori Bill was passed last week.
Ms Fox says at the tangi for Ngati Porou leader Apirana Mahuika, Ngai Tahu’s Sir Tipene O’Regan told the story of them working together in the 1960s as the Victoria University Maori Students’ Association on a paper Sir Tamati wrote for the Education Department arguing for a law change to allow Maori to be spoken and taught at schools.
She says more recently it was Sir Tamati who suggested it was time to revise the Maori Language Act.
"It was time in fact to have a real review and rethink and he was on the original panel of what we need to do, where do we need to go, and how do we put the language back in the hands of our people for them to disseminate, the ones to make the decisions of community consultation, promotion and the revival and survival of our language and so Te Maataawai was conceived," Ms Fox says.
Te Maataawai, which will include representatives from iwi and Maori language stakeholder organisations, will work alongside the crown to develop strategy, distribute funds for language revival efforts at community and iwi level, and take over the work of Te Putahi Paoho, the Maori Television Electoral College.
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