September 13, 2020
Million target for Maori language moment
The Māori Language Commission is almost three-quarters of the way toward its target of having a million people registered to take part in today’s Māori language moment.
It’s Māori Language Week, and the moment at noon today is intended as a time for people to manifest their support, whether it’s speaking, singing, saying a karakia before their lunch, or whatever they feel celebrates te reo.
There has been heavy traffic over the past week on the programme’s website, tuku.reomaori.co.nz, as people from not just Aotearoa but around the world register and upload thoughts and examples.
Māori Language Commissioner Rawinia Higgins says with parades and other large gatherings ruled out this year because of COVID-19 restrictions, it’s a way to keep up the momentum.
"It’s a bit of a pulse test. it's not a scientific test but it's good to test the temperature in society to see how well we are doing in our language revitalisation," she says.
Professor Higgins says support for te reo Māori is strong and growing, with a survey last year finding 8 out of 10 New Zealanders see te reo as part of their national identity, so the commission is keen to turn those supporters into speakers.
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