September 18, 2018
Wiki reo Māori ready for prime time
NGAHIWI APANUI INTERVIEW CLICK HERE
Strong calls have come out of this year’s Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori for Māori to become a core subject in the country’s schools.
Ngāhiwi Apanui, the manager of the Te Taura Whiri, says eight out of 10 Māori don't speak the language, and 92 percent of Māori students are in mainstream schools with no access to Māori lessons.
"Māori children aren't getting te reo Māori generally in mainstream schools, and that's not their fault. But you can't pur te reo Māori in mainstream schools and say it's only for Māori. It's got to be for everybody," he says.
Mr Apanui says the response to this year’s Māori language week shows communities throughout the country are willing to give te reo Māori a go.
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