A debate over public servants attending the Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Parade during work hours has prompted both Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and the Public Service Commission to clarify their positions, with both sides agreeing the event is cultural and civic rather than political.
Professor Rawinia Higgins, Toihau of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, has met with the Public Service Commission to discuss its advice to government agencies about staff participation in the parade.
Higgins says the discussion was constructive, but remains concerned the guidance could unintentionally discourage public servants from participating in an activity that supports the revitalisation and everyday use of te reo Māori.
Te Taura Whiri is clear that it does not regard participation in the parade as political activity.
Instead, the Māori Language Commission sees it as a cultural celebration of New Zealand’s first language that has brought together whānau, schools, kaumātua, community organisations, businesses and public servants over the past decade.
Higgins says there is also a history and precedent for public servants participating, including during previous election years.
At the centre of the debate is whether attending the parade during paid working hours should be regarded as legitimate public-service activity.
Higgins acknowledges decisions about staff time ultimately sit with individual agencies, but argues responsibility for revitalising te reo Māori extends across government rather than resting solely with Te Taura Whiri.
Government agencies already have language plans and have invested in developing staff capability and confidence in te reo Māori.
Higgins is encouraging agencies to consider whether participation in the parade could help deliver the language objectives contained within their Whāinga Amorangi plans.
Her concern is that public servants who have been learning and championing te reo Māori could interpret the latest advice as a signal to step away from practical opportunities to use and support the language.
The Public Service Commission, however, says reports that it has told public servants they cannot attend the parade are incorrect.
The Commission says it has not advised public servants against attending and agrees with Higgins that the parade is a civic and cultural event connected to Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and the promotion of the language.
Instead, its guidance focuses on the responsibilities of individual chief executives for public resources, including paid staff time.
Agencies are being asked to consider whether attendance during working hours is connected to their functions and business requirements.
Where an agency decides paid attendance is appropriate, the Commission recommends documenting the business purpose and identifying any steps required to manage risks.
The Commission says that is the same approach it would expect agencies to take towards comparable events and stresses that the final decision remains with individual agencies and chief executives.
Public servants are also free to attend the parade in their personal capacity.
The Commission says it recognises and supports the important status and role of te reo Māori, noting public-service agencies continue investing in language capability and developing their own initiatives and language plans.
That clarification narrows some of the disagreement between the two organisations.
Both recognise the parade as a cultural and civic event rather than political activity, and both agree individual agencies ultimately determine whether staff can participate during paid working hours.
The remaining tension is around what effect the guidance could have in practice.
For Te Taura Whiri, the concern is that requiring agencies to justify attendance as a business activity could discourage participation and undermine efforts to make te reo Māori a normal part of public-service life.
For the Public Service Commission, the issue is ensuring chief executives remain accountable for how taxpayer-funded staff time is used while retaining the discretion to approve attendance where it serves an agency’s work.
The discussion comes as the Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Parade marks its tenth year, with this year’s theme, Te Reo Towns, celebrating communities making te reo Māori visible and heard in everyday places and spaces.
For Higgins, that everyday visibility is fundamental to successful language revitalisation.
The debate now leaves government agencies with the decision.
They must determine whether joining thousands of New Zealanders in celebrating and normalising te reo Māori fits within their responsibilities and language commitments — and whether their public servants can do so while they are on the clock.
Full post from Professor Rawinia Higgins, Toihau of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
“I recently met with the Public Service Commission to discuss its advice regarding public servant participation in the Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Parade. I appreciated the constructive conversation and discussions. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori will continue to advocate for opportunities that encourage all New Zealanders to celebrate and use te reo Māori, the Crown to uphold its responsibilities and I welcome the ongoing dialogue on how best to support those goals.
To be clear, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori does not consider participation in the parade to be political activity. The parade is a cultural celebration of New Zealand’s first language and, over the ten years it has been held, it has brought together whānau, schools, kaumātua, community groups, businesses and public servants in a positive and inclusive way.
While decisions about staff time are ultimately matters for individual agencies, I think it is important to remember that supporting te reo Māori is not solely the responsibility of Te Taura Whiri. The revitalisation of te reo Māori is a shared responsibility across government, reflected in legislation, public service agency language plans, and the efforts many agencies have made to build capability and confidence in te reo Māori. Public servants have regularly supported the parade over the last 10 years, including in an election year. There is history and a precedent.
My concern is that advice of this nature, this year, could unintentionally discourage public servants who are committed to te reo Māori from participating in practical activities that support its revitalisation. That commitment comes from New Zealanders of all backgrounds, not just Māori, and many are looking for opportunities to put their learning and support for te reo Māori into action, in line with their role as public servants, their agencies respective language plans, and te reo Māori as an official language. So I would encourage agencies to see how the parade can support the delivery of their language objectives in their Whāinga Amorangi plans.
As we mark ten years since the first Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Parade, I hope we continue to see support for te reo Māori as a normal part of public life and public service. This year’s theme “Te Reo Towns” celebrates towns and communities embracing te reo Māori in their everyday places and spaces. That is how language revitalisation succeeds: when te reo Māori is seen, heard and valued every day, by everyone, every year, throughout Aotearoa.”
Professor Rawinia Higgins
Toihau of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
Full statement from the Commission:
“The Commission has not advised public servants they cannot attend the Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Parade. Decisions about staff attendance at events during work time are matters for individual agencies and chief executives.
We agree with Professor Higgins that the parade is a civic and cultural event associated with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and the promotion of te reo Māori, which we acknowledged in our advice to agencies.
Our advice reminds agencies that chief executives are responsible for the use of public resources, including staff time, and should consider whether attendance during work hours is connected to their agency’s functions and business needs. If agencies consider attendance on paid work time is appropriate, our advice recommends they document the business purpose and any steps needed to manage risks. This reflects the approach we would expect agencies to take for any comparable event.
We absolutely recognise and support the important status and role of te reo Māori in New Zealand. Public service agencies continue to invest in building capability in te reo Māori and many have their own language plans and initiatives to support that work.
Public servants can attend the parade in a personal capacity – it is up to agencies to make their own decisions about whether attendance during paid work time is appropriate.”
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