February 01, 2024
Demand soars for kura reo
Independent Māori language revitalisation body Te Mātāwai is facing growing demand for kura reo.
Chief executive Poia Rewi says it is investing in 61 kura reo this financial year 2023/2024 compared with 29 in 2022/23.
An average of 100 people attend each kura reo which means thousands are benefitting from boosting their reo proficiency, activating its use, or getting their ‘reo fix’ in an immersion setting.
Dr Rewi says despite government plans to reduce Māori language use in the public service, the hunger for immersion learning in Māori communities keeps growing.
Māori and non-Māori appear driven to use even more reo, as if in protest.
Te Mātāwai