Fear factor strong in reo backlash

Waatea Team Fear factor strong in reo backlash

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Green MP Marama Davidson believed bigotry and racism are on the wane – despite some eruptions at the recent farmers’ protests.

Some of the placards on display on utes and tractors included statements opposing the use of te reo Māori and declaring ‘This is New Zealand, not Aotearoa.

Ms Davidson says some people are being confronted by their own fear and ignorance as te reo Māori becomes normalised.

"There are those who we might never be able to change and they will remain fearful and racist but there a whole lot more people who may not be quite sure but could really be encouraged to see how beautiful te reo and tikanga are for everyone in Aotearoa, how there is nothing to fear, how your children – especially your Pākehā children – will enjoy learning the language of this land," she says.

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