November 27, 2023
No details yet on removal of te reo Māori from government agencies
Details on exactly which public service agencies will have te reo names removed, how it will be done and to what extent is yet to be formalised by the new coalition government.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the new government is encouraging more people to use te reo, but the coalition agreement signed between National and NZ First requires public service departments and crown entities to communicate primarily in te reo Pākehā. All those agencies specifically related to Māori are unaffected.
National Iwi Chairs Kaikōrero Professor Makere Mutu says “The policy to remove te reo from government documents and legislation will fail and is malicious. It undermines all of the work done by our Rangatira who have worked hard to restore te reo and normalise it in our communities. We have gone too far to go back,”
The Prime Minister says it’s about accountability of the public service and the transparency in delivering to New Zealanders.
“We want everybody to navigate their government. We’ve had a public service that’s had more people added to it, more spending taking place, with worse results.”
“We want every New Zealander to know what those agencies are and what those services they provide are.” says PM Luxon.
ACT Leader David Symour says it is a NZ First-National agreement and where te reo is relevant to them, it will be up to the government to make a decision on that.
Deputy Prime Minister and NZ First Leader Winston Peters, says Te Papa Tongarewa the Museum of New Zealand will retain its name but he questions the relevancy of te reo with Waka Kotahi the New Zealand Transport Agency.
“Te Papa is a historic name but tell me this waka kotahi, how many boats have you seen going down the road?” says DPM Winston Peters.
The coalition government also plans to legislate for English be an official language.
Christopher Luxon and a 20-strong cabinet was sworn in by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro Monday morning. They will meet for the first time on Tuesday afternoon. Parliament resumes with all parties in the house on the 5th of December. The speech from the throne, setting out plans for the next three years, will be held on Wednesday 6th December.