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A major study of 6000 New Zealand children may offer valuable insights into what works to revitalise te reo Maori.
The children in Auckland University’s Growing Up In New Zealand study are almost out of pre-school , and the data is already picking up widespread use of the language.
Maori advisor Te Kani Kingi says as well as all the other things the study will look at, by its nature it will be the most comprehensive study of the Maori language ever done.
"We’ll be able to profile those tamariki and some of those parents who have embraced te reo Maori and also profile those who wanted to learn te reo Maori but haven't and with a very high degree of validity, better understand what the catalysts are. So what are the drivers that actually promote the use of te reo Maori, what are the drivers that assist people to retain te reo Maori," he says.
Dr Kingi says an encouraging finding is the number of non-Maori tamariki who use and respond to simple Maori words and phrases.
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