August 17, 2022
Reo chocolate backlash out of step
The Māori Language Commission has welcomed Whittaker’s use of te reo Māori for its creamy milk chocolate block.
Miraka Kirīmi has triggered some pundits to call for a boycott of the firm.
But Māori Language Commissioner, Professor Rawinia Higgins, says for those who complain it’s a step too far, the reality is the rest of New Zealand has already taken that step.
Eight in 10 New Zealanders see te reo as part of their identity as a Kiwi while one in three can speak more than a few words in Māori.
She says Whittaker’s is also celebrating te wiki te reo Maori initiatives for their staff, normalising the language across their digital platforms and engaging with their local mana whenua.